208 ALTERATION OF POSITION. 



Fig. 109 shows the regular erect form ; fig. 110 

 the calyx of the same flower; while in fig. Ill are 

 shown the stamens and style of the two plants respect- 

 ively. In the upper figure the style of the peloriate 

 variety is shown as nearly straight, and the stamfens 

 undergo a corresponding change. No doubt the rela- 

 tive fertility and capacity for impregnation of the two 

 varieties is affected in proportion to the change of 

 form. The Gloxinia affords an instance of regular con- 

 genital peloria in which the regularity of form and 

 the erect direction are due to an arrest, not of growth, but 

 of development, in consequence of which the changes 

 that ordinarily ensue during the progress of the flower 

 from its juvenile to its fully formed condition do not 

 take place. 



Fio. 110. Calyx of erect Fio. 111. Stamens of erect 



Gloxinia. regular, and of pendent irre- 



gular-flowered Gloxinia. 



A similar alteration accompanies this form of peloria 

 in other flowers (see Peloria). A change in direc- 

 tion may result also from other circumstances than 

 those just alluded to. Abortion or suppression of 

 organs will induce such an alteration ; thus in a 

 flower of Pelargonium now before me three of the five 

 carpels, from some cause or other, are abortive and 

 ^ much smaller than usual, and the style and the beak- 



