364 rOLYPHYLLY. 



present, but where, under peculiar circumstances, five 

 maybe found thus rendering the symmetry complete.^ 

 In Papilionacece, wherein usually only one carpel is 

 developed, we occasionally find two, or even more, as 

 in Wistaria, Gleditschla, ^rifolium, &c. In Primus and 

 Arnygdalus from two to five carpels are occasionally to 

 be found,^ in Mimosa five, in Umhelliferce three to five ; 

 in some composites, e. g. Spilanthes, five carpels have 

 also been noticed; in Cruciferce three and four, in 

 grasses three.^ The double cocoa-nut affords an illus- 

 tration of the development of two carpels out of three, 

 one only generally arriving at perfection. Triple nuts 

 (Gorylus) also owe their peculiarity to the equal develop- 

 ment of all three carpels which exist in the original 

 flower, but of which, under ordinary circumstances, 

 two become abortive. It is necessary, however, to 

 distinguish these cases from those in which two embryos 

 are developed in one seed. 



The following list may serve to show in what genera 

 this change has been most frequently noticed, and it 

 may be said in general terms that Cruciferm, Umhelli- 

 ferce, and LlliacecB, are the orders most fi'equently 

 affected. Cases of peloria are not included in the 

 subjoined list. 



> Giraud, * Ed. Phil. Mag.,' Dec., 1839. 



' See Cerastis Caproniana, D. C. ' Plant. Rar. Hoi-t. Genev.,' tab. 18. 



' Nces, ' Linnaa,' v, p. 679, tab. 11 {Schcenodortis). 



