288 ANOMALIES OF DEVELOPEMENT. CHAP. V. 



prises the three following varieties : the multipli- 

 cate, the full, and the proliferous flower. 

 TheMul- The multiplicate flower is sometimes, though 

 flower, rarely, accasioned by an unusual multiplication of 

 the divisions of the calyx, as exemplified by Linnaeus 

 in Dianthus Caryophyllus and some of the Alpine 

 Grasses.* But the anomaly most generally con- 

 sists in the undue multiplication of the divisions of 

 the corolla, by the conversion of part of the stamens 

 into petals, which is occasionally to be met with 

 both in monopetalous and polypetalous flowers. It 

 occurs but seldom however in flowers growing in 

 their natural state and habitat, though you will now 

 and then meet with a double flower even in such 

 circumstances. I have met with several specimens of 

 the Ranunculus Acris in which the corolla consisted 

 of a double row of petals, even when growing wild 

 in the fields ; but double flowers are for the most 

 part the effect, and often also, the object of culti- 

 vation. 



The following is a species of multiplicate flower 

 that does not come under any of the foregoing cases, 

 though it is perhaps not altogether a solitary ex* 

 ample; it is that of an individual flower of Pri- 

 mula veris, containing two ovaries, two styles, two 

 stigmas, and eight anthers complete, with the 

 rudiments of a ninth, and the calyx and corolla 

 divided into nine segments. It was gathered by 

 * Phil. Bof. 80. 



