X 



INTRODUCTION. 





species (Urostp/ma) in which it does not obtain, and in which male, fertile female, and gall 

 flowers are contained in the same receptacle. In this group the difference in structure 

 in the early stages between gall and fertile female flowers is very slight, and in some 



cases I could find no difference whatever. And even the ripe achenes of the fertile 

 females are in many cases undistinguishable externally from the ovaries containing far 

 advanced pupae, and it is only by cutting them open that they can be recognised. As 

 regards the relation in this group of Urostigma of the male flowers to the fertile female 

 and gall flowers, there are two types of arrangement. In one set of species (of which 

 F. Beagaiemis and tomentosa are good examples) the male flowers are comparatively few in 

 number, and are confined to a zone at the apex of the receptacle, just under the ostiolar 

 scales; while in another set the male flowers are intermixed with the fertile female and 

 gall flowers over the whole surface of the interior of the receptacle. 



A third small group (Synania) has neuter flowers mixed with the fertile females in 

 one set of receptacles; while the other set of receptacles contains only male and gall 



flowers. And a fourth group (which I have named Palceomorpke) has male flowers wh 



in addition to an anther, contain an insect-attacked or gall pistil. These pseudo-her- 

 maphrodite flowers are confined to the sub-ostiolar zone, the remainder of the receptacle 

 being occupied by gall flowers : while perfect female flowers occur in a distinct set of 

 receptacles and are unaccompanied by any trace of male or gall flowers. 



It appears to me that, in the peculiarities in the structure and arrangement of the flowers 

 which I have above described, the evolutionary history of the genus Ficu* may to some extent 

 be traced. I have therefore ventured to arrange the Indo-Malayan species into two 

 groups, and to divide the second of these great groups info three sub-groups, accordin 

 to their presumed seniority. Believing that hermaphroditism is an archaic and primitive 

 condition from which the genus is in process of delivery, I look on its persistence 



great 



even in 



an imperfect form, as an indication of age. I have therefore separated off the ten species 

 in winch I find it regularly to occur into a distinct group. Of this group pseudo- 

 hermaphroditism „ the diagnostic mark, and to the section which these ten species form 

 have given the name P^norpk, It is tru3 that ia the ^ rf 



the pseudo-hermaphrodjte flowers are confined to the same receptacles as the gall fl Irs 

 wMe the perfec females are confined to a distinct set of receptacles in J£ there s 

 no trace of etfhe, males or galls, and that the receptacles are thus 

 bt.ll ,t appears to me that the persistence of the rudimentary female 



flowers must be taken as indieat 



practically dioecious, 

 organ in the male 



o 



more primitive condition than the enclosure in th 



am, receptee], of Mrictly unuemal m ,, e „ d (emsl „ 



in MM, The* ten „* W „ s tj^ CI ' ""^ ^ 



formed the remaining species of 



group by themselves, I have 



xual flowe 



' P ,l " d< "»»™«»«., or practically di«M th. practically 



