84- VEGETABLE ORGANOGRAPHY. 



stigma ill the form of a transverse fold, are usually in a 

 petaloid state ; a great number of double flowers also 

 have their styles developed into petaloid laminas ; thus 

 proving the peculiar analogy of the styles, stamens, and 

 petals. 



The degenerations of the male organs are still more 

 frequent. When the anthers are abortive, the filaments 

 are changed into laminae perfectly like the petals of the 

 plant : this is what we see in common double flowers. 

 When the anthers themselves remain, although becoming 

 sterile, it happens sometimes that they are developed in 

 the form of horns : this happens in several Ranunculaceae. 

 The Columbine presents this very remarkably. By 

 culture we obtain two double monstrosities : the one 

 with all the petals flat, owing to the development of the 

 filament and the absolute abortion of the anther, as 

 Aquilegia vulgaris stellata ; the other with all the petals 

 horn-shaped, resulting from the non-development of the 

 filaments, and the extraordinary increase of the anther, 

 as A. vulgaris corniculala. 



The degenerations of the petals are the more difficult 

 to recognise, as they themselves are constantly in an 

 intermediate state between the primitive one of a leaf 

 and that of a stamen. Every form is met with in these 

 organs. The principal modification is owing to the pre- 

 sence of certain glands, which cause the origin of spurs : 

 it happens in certain gamopetalous flowers that the un- 

 equal union of the petals is very manifest, and produces 

 different appearances. 



The abortion of the petals is more difficult to reduce 

 to general laws than the preceding phenomena. Let us 

 first take the most simple cases. That there are plants, 

 the petals of which are accidentally abortive, it is 

 difficult to doubt : thus Sagina apetala sometimes 

 presents very small ones, sometimes it is entirely devoid 



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