SECT. I. ORGANOGRAPHY AND GLOSSOLOGY. 



121 



general operation, which serves to modify the normal 

 condition of the several parts of the separate whorls. 

 For example/ the Phlox amaena has a monopetalous 

 tubular corolla (fig. 133. a), expanding into a flattened 



border at the summit, and forming what is called a 

 " salver-shaped " flower. But a monstrosity of this 

 plant has been observed, where the corolla is split up 

 into five distinct petals, resembling those of a pink 

 (Dianthus}. This shows us, that the ordinary mono- 

 petalous condition of the corolla in this flower, has 

 resulted from an adhesion of the five subordinate parts 

 of which it is composed ; and some blossoms have 

 been found, in which this adhesion has only taken place 

 partially, some of the petals being cemented half-way 

 up the tube, whilst others adhere nearly throughout its 

 whole length (6). 



Not only may the several parts of the separate 

 whorls contract adhesions of these kinds, but two or 

 more of the whorls may be grafted together, throughout 

 a greater or less extent. 



The causes here enumerated, as modifying or dis- 

 guising the several parts of which flowers are composed, 

 are brought into operation at such early stages of their 

 development, that it is very seldom we can trace the 

 successive steps by which the metamorphosis has been 

 effected. In many cases, however, we find the number 

 of ovules in the ovarium, far exceeding the number of 

 ripened seeds in the pericarp; and the obliteration of 



