SUPPEESSION. 393 



obliterated by the pressure exercised by the constantly 

 increasing bulk of adjacent parts, or possibly has 

 become incorporated with them. In the adult flower 

 the appearances are the same, though the causes may 

 have been different. 



CHAPTER I. 



SUPPRESSION OF AXILE OEGANS. 



Absolute suppression of the main axis is tantamount 

 to the non-existence of the plant, so that the terms 

 " acaulescent," " acaulosia," &c., must be considered 

 relatively only, and must be taken to signify an atro- 

 phied or diminished size of the stem, arising from the 

 non-development of the intemodes. 



The absence of lateral branches or divisions of the 

 axis is of frequent occurrence, and is dependent on 

 such causes as the following : deficient supply of 

 nutriment, position against a wall or other obstacle, 

 close crowding of individual plants, too great or too 

 little hght, too rich or too poor a soil, &c. 



Probably the absence of the swollen portion below 

 the flower in the case of many proliferous roses, double- 

 flowered apples, as already referred to, may be depen- 

 dent on the non-development of the extremity of the 

 peduncle or flower-stalk. Thus, in a double-flowered 

 apple recently examined, there was a sort of involucel of 

 five perfect leaves, then five sepals surrounding an equal 

 nimiber of petals, numerous stamens, and five styles, 

 but not a trace of an expanded axis, nor of any portion 

 of the carpels, except the styles. The views taken as 

 to the nature of this and similar malformations must 

 depend on the opinion held as to the nature of inferior 

 pistils, and on the share, if any, that the expanded axis 

 takes in their production. As elsewhere said, the 



