OBCHIDACEit:. 387 



there are several, besides those already mentioned, in which six more 

 or less perfect stamens have been seen of these the following may 

 be taken as illustrations. A hexandrous flower of Orchis militaris has 

 been recorded by Kirschleger,' and in the accompanying diagram (fig. 

 195), from Cramer,* of a monstrous flower of Orchis inascula, there 

 is one perfect stamen of the outer row and two lip-like stamens of the 

 same series, while the inner verticil comprises one perfect and two 

 abortive stamens. 



Morren^ describes some flowers of Orchis inorio in which there were 

 three sepals, three petals, and within the latter two other ternary series 

 of petals ; this would seem to be a case of petalody of all six stamens. 

 Morren, however, seems to have considered the additional segments as 

 repetitions of the corolline whorl, though he describes a central mass as 

 the column beai-ing a " smivenir of the anther." Nevertheless, there is 

 no decisive evidence either in his figure or his description in support of 

 his opinion as to the nature of the central mass, which might be a 

 distorted condition of the styles, or, as is more probable, a rudimentary 

 and iiregular flower. Morren also describes another flower of the same 

 plant in which there were three sepals, two lateral petals partially Up- 

 like in aspect, a third labellum normal, two additional labella represent- 

 ing the two anterior stamens of the outer whorl, while more or less 

 developed rudiments of the remaining four stamens also exist. 



While, in most cases, the supernumerary stamens can, by reason of 

 their relative position, their complete or partial antheriferous nature, be 

 safely referred to one or other of the six stamens, making up a typical 

 orchid flower, there are other specimens in which the additional stamens 

 are altogether adventitious, and do not admit of reference to the homo- 

 logue. Thus it was in a specimen of Odontoglossuvi Alexandroe ex- 

 amined by the writer, and in which, within a normally constructed 

 perianth, there were six columns, all polliniferous, but arranged in so 

 confused and complicated a manner that it was impossible to make out 

 any definite relation in their position. There was nothing to indicate 

 a fusion of flowers, but rather an extension of the centre of the flower, 

 and consequent displacement of the stamens, <&c. Again, the existence 

 of adventitious stamens does not necessarily imply the development of 

 organs usually suppressed, inasmuch as they may result from the 

 assumption by the latei'al petals of stamina! characteristics. 



Nevertheless, as far as tei*atology is concerned, specimens may be 

 found in which some or all of the usually suppressed stamens of Orchi- 

 dacece may be found. These stamens may be all perfect (polliniferous), 

 or, as is more frequently the case, more or less petal-like. Moreover. 



' Kirschleger, ' Flora,' 1844. p. 131. 



' Bildungsabweich,' p. 11, t'lb. xiv, f. ,3. 

 ' ' Bull, \on(\. Rnv, R<'1<;..' t. xix, part 2, p. 171. 



