OP THE CALYX. 245 



k- 



Amongst monocotyledons an analogous change 

 occurs not unfi'equently, as in some commel3maceous 

 plants, e. g. Tradescantia, in Musa, &c. 



The spathe of Ay'um maculatum is sometimes repre- 

 sented by a stalked leaf similar to that which occurs, 

 under ordinary circumstances, in Spathiphyllum^ but 

 in which genus the spadix is more or less adherent to 

 the leaf-like spathe.^ In Schcenus ceplialotes a similar 

 exaggerated development of the bracts is figured by 

 Rottboell.' 



Phyllody in inflorescence of Conifers. This demands pass- 

 ing notice by reason of the interest attaching to the 

 morphological construction of these plants. The 

 elongation of the axis which occurs in the female 

 cones has been already alluded to under the head of 

 prolification of the inflorescence. This change is fre- 

 quently associated with a more or less foliaceous con- 

 dition of the bracts, which, indeed, may be seen to be 

 serially continuous, both above and below, with the 

 ordinary leaves. The scales, too, become notched and 

 bipartite, and show, between the lobes, the rudiment of 

 a bud, which in a further stage becomes developed into 

 a shoot bearing leaves. Such a change has been de- 

 scribed by Parlatore in Abies Brunoniana, and examples 

 may frequently be met with in the larch {Larix euroj^cea), 

 and specially in Cryjotomeria japonica? The scales of 

 the male catkins of conifers likewise occasionally 

 assume the appearance of leaves ; this may be seen in 

 monstrous catkins of Araucariat as also in Podocarpece 

 and Cupressineoi (Eichler). 



Phyllody of the calyx. Sepals under ordinary circum- 

 stances are so like leaves, that it is not wonderful that 



Sauter, Flora v. Bot. Zeit.,' 1831, p. 11. 



'Descr. et Icon. Plant.,' tab. 20. 



' For references see p. 115 ; see also to Eichler, ' Excurs. Morpholojj. 

 de format, flor. Gymnosperm.,' in " Mart. Flor. Brasil," abstracted in 

 English in ' Natural History Review,' April, 1864. 



