Morphology of the Citrus. 181 



like the bracts of an artichoke. The section (V) of 

 this fruit shows a most complicated structure. Within 

 the outer rind, is the usual whorl of pulp carpels ; 

 within each of these is a double series of both rind and 

 pulp carpels (b'\ each pair forming miniature elements 

 of another complete orange.* Within this circle 

 again are imperfect carpels, some having rind attached 

 with essential oil cells, as at A. Then in the centre of 

 all is a ring of simple rind carpels, with essential oil 

 cells. Not only is the flower of this singular tree 

 double, but its fruit is also very double. 



What formerly were supposed to be examples of 

 " superfoetation," appear nothing but specimens of 

 fruit-doubling. The peculiarity of these fruits exists 

 in the ovary before fertilization, and the fruit exhibit- 

 ing it, may develop without having been fertilized. 

 Fig. a, pi. 240, is an example of what Risso called 

 " Bigaradier a fruit fetifere." Its fruit however 

 appears nothing but another specimen of fruit doubling. 

 It had rarely any seeds, and, when present, they were 

 very small and imperfect, and the fruit of the 

 " Bergamottier mellarose a Heur double" had no trace 

 of seeds. Such instances of seedless fruit plainly show 

 that this so called superfoetation, could not have been 

 the result of excess of fertilization, as there were no 

 germs to be fertilized, and had there been any, they 

 must have been so imperfect that no fertilization could 

 take place. f The " orange sans pepins," and others, 

 are similar instances of an orange growing, and having 

 abundant sweet juice, without its ovules having been 

 previously fertilized. The orange is not the only fruit 



* These inner rinds, in my opinion, all but prove the double 

 whorl nature of the ordinary orange. 



t This result of course, might also occur from imperfection of the 

 sexual organs. 



