144 MR. S. J. A. SALTER ON A SEXUAL MONSTROSITY 
M. Agardh has noticed a similar transformation in the Oriental Hyacinth (Hyacinthus 
orientalis): he affirms that he saw, in a half-blown flower of this plant, the placentas 
metamorphosed into stamens; one half of the fruit enclosed seeds, and the other half 
anthers. 
M. Schimper has found in the Weeping Willow (Salix Babylonica) the most varied 
instances of the changing of pistils into stamens. In Primula acaulis the same observer 
has seen anther-cells on the internal walls of the ovaries. 
According to Engelmann, both Campanula persicifolia and C. rapunculoides sometimes 
exhibit their pistils surmounted by organs resembling an anther: the same author has 
observed in Cheiranthus Cheiri the half of an ovary metamorphosed into a staminal mass. 
M. Gay has recognized this kind of transformation in Colchicum autumnale: one of 
the styles was much elongated and of regular conformation; the two others appeared 
shortened and changed into antheriferous filaments. 
Moquin-Tandon himself speaks of having found pistils of Zea Mays converted, some 
wholly and some partially, into antheral organs. ; 
Mohl has demonstrated an analogous monstrosity developed in Chamerops humilis: 
the three carpels were found of normal conformation in each flower; they presented 
their habitual form and size; each contained an ovule perfectly organized; they did not 
deviate from ovaries of an entirely normal structure, except that a yellow pad existed 
along the length of the two sides of the ventral suture, which yellow pad was displayed, 
by a section of the ovary, as an antheral mass full of pollen, and divided by a septum 
into two loculi. 
In some general remarks upon these monstrosities Moquin-Tandon observes, ** that the 
vegetables affected by the metamorphosis of pistils into stamens may be divided into two 
series, those in which the ovary is formed by a single carpellary leaf, and those which 
are furnished with many carpellary leaves. The metamorphosis is perhaps less decided 
in the second case than the first: when the ovary of many carpels is transformed, the 
foliaceous elements which compose it show constantly a tendency to separate one from 
another.” And he continues, in accordance with opinions expressed by Mohl, “it seems 
evident that, in this transformation, the lobes of the anther and the production of the 
pollen have no relation to the formation of the ovules: the fecund matter is developed 
in the very interior of the ovarian leaf and in the neighbourhood of its edges." I would 
direct particular attention to this passage, because the conclusion here expressed by such 
high authority is directly contravened by the specimens I am about to describe. 
Some curious observations on the weeping willow, bearing on this subject, have been 
recorded by Professor Braun of Berlin, in a paper on the “ Individuality of Plants in 
relation to Species,” &c., published in the ‘ Transactions of the Royal Academy of Sciences 
of Berlin’ in 1853*, 
All weeping willows appear to have been derived from one individual plant, and to 
have been propagated by cuttings: that plant was a female. And yet many of the trees 
thus produced have borne polleniferous catkins. The weeping willow by the tomb of 
* « Das Individuum der Pflanze in seinem Verháltniss zur Species," &c., in Abhandlungen der Königlichen 
Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin vom Jahr 1853. 
