27G PHYLIiODY. 



Among Logumiiiosoe u partial leafy condition (frond- 

 escence), or a more complete degree of the same change, 

 (chloranthy) is not infrequent, particularly in Trifolium 

 repens. In this species the changes are so common, so 

 various and important, that they may be alluded to in 

 some little detail. M. Germain de Saint Pierre,^ in 

 commenting on the frequency with which the flowers 

 of this plant are more or less frondescent, remarks 

 that although all the flowers on one plant may be 

 affected, they are all changed in the same manner, but on 

 different specimens different degrees of transformation 

 are found. In all the corolla and stamens are com- 

 paratively little removed from the ordinary form, the 

 calyx and pistil, however, have a particular tendency 

 to assume a foliar condition. The author just cited 

 arranges the malformations of this plant under three 

 heads, as follows : 



1. Calyx-teeth larger than usual, sometimes dentate at the margin ; 

 petals more or less regular and disposed to run away from the papilio- 

 naceous form ; filaments free ; anthers normal ; carpel transformed into 

 a true leaf with a long stalk provided at the base, with two stipules, 

 terminal leaflet, solitary, green, with no trace of ovules. Sometimes a 

 second carpellaiy leaf, similar to the fii'st, is formed ; in other cases the 

 central axis of the flower is occasionally prolonged into a head of young 

 flowers median prolification. In some few instances the calyx is not at 

 all altered, but the carpellary leaf is trifoliolate, or even quinquefoliolate, 



it doth bleare, are set at the toppes of the stalks close together, pleasant 

 to behold, and fit for a gentlewoman to weai'e on her arme, &c,, as a 

 rairitie in stead of a flower." 



Merret, in his ' Pinax,' published in 1667, says he found it growing in 

 the woods of Hyde Park and Hampstead, and Zanoni was the first to 

 figure it (with the exception of Pai'kinson's rude woodcut) in his 

 ' Istoria Botanica,' published in 1675. It is mentioned by Morison and 

 also by Ray, the latter of whom inserts it in his Synopsis, but without 

 any habitat ; though in his ' Historia Plantaram' he says : " Canta- 

 bngia) in horto per aliquot annos colui." From this time henceforth 

 the Plymouth strawberry has become a botanical Dodo, nothing more 

 having been seen or heai'd of it except the mere record of the name. In 

 1766, M. Duchesne informed the world of the generosity of " M. 

 Monti, Docteur de Philosophic et de Medecine a Boulogne en Italic," 

 who divided with him a dried specimen taken from his own herbarium, 

 "Ce present pretieux m'ote toute incertitude sur la nature de ce Fraisier 

 et Bur sea caracteres monstrueux. II paroit ne pas avoir aujourd'hui 

 plus d'existence." 



1 'Bull. Soc. Bot. France,' 1856, vol. ill, p. 477. 



