388 TLEIOTAXY 1>F THE 



wheu the stamens ai'e petalodic, the form assumed is usually that of 

 the labellum. 



The presence of stamens in undue numbers in orchids is very gene- 

 rally, but not always, attended by some coincident malformation, of 

 which the most frequent is cohesion of two or more sepals, and conse- 

 quent displacement or adhesion of one petal to the side of the column. 

 Petalody of the styles and median prolification are also sometimes 

 found in association with an augmented number of stamens. 



Pleiotaxy of the gjnitBcimn. An increase in the number 

 of whorls of which the pistil consists is not of very fre- 

 quent occurrence. Generally after the formation of the 

 whorl of carpels, the energy of the growing point ceases, 

 or if by chance it be continued, the result is more gene- 

 rally the production of a new flower-bud (median pro- 

 lification) than the repetition of the carpellary series. 

 It is necessary also to distinguish between the verit- 

 able augmentation of the pistil and the semblance of 

 it, brought about by the substitution of carpels for 

 some other organs, as pistillody of the stamens, and 

 even of the segments of the perianth, is not very un- 

 frequent, as has already been stated under the head of 

 substitution. Again, the increased number of carpels 

 which is sometimes met with in such flowers, as 

 Magnolia or Delijldnium^ where the ovaries are arranged 



Fio. 196. Increased number of Fig. 197. Fruit of St. Valery 



carpels, tulip. apple cut lengthwise. 



