126 WONDERS OF PLANT LIFE 



between stamens and petals is a fact beyond 

 question. 



It will not be quite such a simple matter to 

 trace in a clear fashion the leaf origin of the 

 pistil as it has been in the case of the three other 

 organs which have been dealt with. It some- 

 times happens in freak flowers that the stamens 

 are transformed into carpels, and even on occasion 

 strange processes have been found which bear a 

 resemblance to both male and female organs. In 

 the case of an abnormal Saxifrage mentioned by 

 Kerner, it appeared that the anthers and ovules 

 can be produced from exactly the same part of 

 the stalk. There is, therefore, without doubt, a 

 close connection between the stamens and carpels. 

 It is interesting to push the matter still further 

 and endeavour to find out whether we cannot 

 find in a more direct way that the pistil is akin 

 to the leaf. 



There does not seem to be any flower in a 

 natural state which offers us a complete explana- 

 tion as to the origin of the female organs. Even 

 in the case of most double flowers it is not easy 

 to find an instance which helps us to understand 

 the evolution of the carpels. There is, however, 

 one double blossom which lets a good deal of light 

 on to the problem, and this is the Cherry. The 



