190 



THE FLOWER. 



filament, a monstrosity, indeed, but the monstrosity is here 

 a return to normal sj-mmetry. The two stamens nearest the 

 suppressed or abortive one generally 

 shai'e in the tendency to abortion, as 

 is shown by their lesser length or 

 smaller anthers : in the flower of 

 Catalpa, these two also are either im- 

 perfect or reduced to mere vestiges 

 (as in Fig. 363) : in very many other 

 plants of these families, even these 

 vestiges are not seen, and so the five 

 stamens are by abortion or complete 

 suppression reduced to two. 



346. Suppression in the gynoecium 

 to a number less than the numerical 

 plan of the flower (as shown in the 

 perianth) is of more common occur- 

 rence than the typical number, and 

 the reduction is comparatively con- 

 stant throughout the genus or order. 

 A papilionaceous or other leguminous 

 flower with more than one or with all 

 five pistils is exceedingly rare, and 

 except in one pentacarpellary genus 

 is a monstrosity. Suppression of 

 the interior is more common than 

 of exterior organs. Want of room 

 in the bud may partially explain 

 this. 



347. Suppression of whole Circles. Such suppression or rather 

 non-production in the actual blossom of whole series of organs 

 which belong to the type, and indeed are sometimes present in 

 that blossom's nearest relatives, is very common. It gives 

 occasion to several descriptive terms, which may be here defined 

 together. First, and in general, flowers are 



Incomplete, in which any one or more of the four kinds of organs 

 is wanting, whatever these may be ; 



Apetalous, when the corolla or inner perianth is wanting ; 

 Monochlamydeous, where the perianth is simple instead of 



FIG. 361. Corolla of Gerardia purpurea laid open, with the four stamens, the place 

 which the fifth should occupy indicated by a cross. 



FIG. 362. Corolla of Penlstemon grandiflorns laid open, with its four stamens, and 

 a sterile filament in the place of the fifth stamen. 



FIG. 363. Corolla of Catalpa laid open, with two perfect stamens and the vestiges 

 of three abortive ones. 



