, 26.] 



STUDY OF ANOMALOUS FLOWERS. 



31 



are apparently but two, strangely deformed bodies. A careful inspection, 

 however, generally reveals the other three, very minute, in their proper 

 places, as displayed in the cut. 



72. "Organs opposite" is a condition much less fre- 

 quent than "organs alternate," but is highly interest- 

 ing, as being sometimes characteristic of whole fami- 

 lies. Thus in the Primrose, Thrift, and Buckthorn 

 families, the stamens always stand opposite, to the 

 petals ! 



73. How happens this? Among the Prim worts 

 this question is solved in the flowers of Lysimachia 



22 



I Diag ams.22, Flower of Samolus, showing the rudimentary stamens alternating with the peifect. 

 23, Flower of a Labiate plant, showing the place of the deficient stamen. 24, Flower of Asarum three 

 sepals, twelve stamens, etc. 25, Flower of Saxifrage two pistils, ten stamens, etc. 



and Samolus, where we find a circle of five teeth 

 (abortive filaments) between the petals and stamens, 

 alternating with both sets, thus restoring the lost sym- 

 metry. Hence we infer that in such cases generally 

 a circle of alternating organs has been either partially 

 or wholly suppressed. In the Buckthorn, however, a 

 different explanation has been given. 



74. Redundancy. The multiplication of organs is 

 exceedingly common, and usually according to a defi- 

 nite plan. The increase takes place, as a rule, by cir- 

 cles, and consequently by multiples. That is, e.g., the 

 stamens of a ty flower, if increased, will be so by 3s ; 

 of a fy flower by 5s, etc., sometimes to the extent of 

 twenty such circles. 



