OF THE OVULES. 263 



ovules of Pnmula sinensis, applied tlie term lepyi'o- 

 phylly {XsTTvpbv, a scale) to the foliaceous condition of 

 the testa in this plant. linger^ describes a series of 

 malformations in Primula sinensis, consisting chiefly of 

 reversions of the part of the flower to leaves. The 

 carpels were entirely absent in this case, and the place 

 of the free central placenta was occupied by a circle of 

 leaves, sometimes bearing imperfect ovules on their 

 edges. An instance of a similar kind has been de- 

 scribed by A. de CandoUe.^ 



In these flowers the placenta seemed to be composed 

 of several funiculi soldered together, and bearing imper- 

 fect ovules. In other cases no traces of ovules are 

 visible, but the funiculi are in a foliaceous condition. 

 Moquin also alludes to a case of the same nature in 

 Cortusa Mathioli, in which the funiculi bore little 

 rounded leaves. Brongniart has described some mal- 

 formations of Primula sinensis in which the ovules 

 were transformed wholly or partially into small leaves 

 with three to five lobes. ^ Dr. Marchand* mentions 

 similar changes in Anagallis arvensis and Lonicera Pen- 

 clymenum. 



Cramer^ figures ovules of Pnmula sinensis in the 

 form of stalked leaves, often becoming infolded at the 

 margins, and giving origin to a small nucleus on their 

 inner surface. 



M. Tassi^ records an instance in Symphytum officinale 

 wherein the ovules were replaced by two small linear 

 leaves arising entirely from the axis, and not from the 

 carpels. 



In most of the foregoing illustrations the foliar portion 

 of the ovule must have been independent of the carpel; 

 this independence is less manifest, though probably as 



' Act Acad. Nat. Cur.,' 22, 11, 1850, p. 543, t. v, vi. 



- ' Neue Denkschrift der alls. Schweiz. Gesellsch.,* band v, p. 9, tab. 3, 4. 



3 'Ann. Sc. Nat.,' 2 ser., vol. i, p. 308, pi. ix, c. 



* ' Adansonia,' vol. iv, pp. 159, 171. 



* ' Bildungsabweichungen,' &c., tab. iv, figs. 1, 2, 21, 28, 29, &c. 

 " Bull Soc. Hot. France,' viii, p. 395. 



