428 



liVl'ERTROPHY OF THE 



Enlargement of the perianth, &c. One or all the segments 

 of the perianth maybe subjected to hypertrophy; thus, 

 the utricle of Carex vulpina may frequently be observed 

 to attain four or five times its usual size, the contained 

 ovary remaining unaffected. This condition is generally 

 the result of insect puncture. The growth of parasitic 

 fungi will produce a similar result, as is often seen in 

 the common shepherd's purse, Thlaspi bursa imstoiisy 

 and other Grucifcrce. Tlie perianth of Rumex aguaticus 

 has been also observed to be occasionally hypertrophied 

 in conjunction with a similar condition of the pistil and 

 "Nvith atrophy of the ovules. 



Moquin relates having found flowers of Salsola Kali 

 and of Chenopodium miirale in which some of the seg- 

 ments of the perianth were five or six times larger than 

 they should be. 



The adjoining woodcut represents a singular con- 

 dition of some cocoa-nuts in the Kew Museunj, the 



Fio, 205. Hypertrophy of the perianth in Coeos nuci/era. 



