328 
NATURE 
[ Fan. 27, 1870 
VEGETABLE MONSTROSITIES 
Vegetable Teratology: An Account of the Principal Devi- 
ations from the usual Construction of Plants. By 
Maxwell T. Masters, M.D., F.L.S. With numerous 
illustrations by E. M. Williams. (Published for the 
Ray Society. 1869.) 
N the volume before us we have the most complete 
account that has yet been given to the public of the 
various aberrant forms which are from time to time pre- 
sented by the different organs of whichplants are composed. 
Such investigations are no mere idle amusement for the 
leisure hours of naturalists, but have an important scientific 
bearing. Since botanists have attempted to arrange the 
vegetable kingdom in a classification possessing a higher 
claim to the title of ‘‘ natural ” 
than that proposed by Lin- 
nus, it has been acknow- 
ledged that the true, though 
hidden, relationships of a 
genus may often be indicated 
by an abnormal or monstrous 
variety. A new interest has 
been given to these inquiries 
by the theory, now so gene- 
rally adopted by naturalists, 
that affinity in structure is 
but an indication of con- 
sanguinity in descent ; these 
exceptional forms or “sports” 
being regarded as frequently 
reversions to an ancestral type 
of structure. Apart, however, from such modifications as 
are of importance in systematic botany, there are others 
which are noteworthy as throwing light on controverted 
points in morphology, and 
on the relation to one ano- 
ther of the different organs. 
Among these are the exact 
morphological character of 
the carpel, viewed inthe light 
of a metamorphosed leaf ; 
and of the so-called “in- 
ferior” ovary, whether its 
covering is to be considered 
as a united calyx-tube, or 
as a modified continuation 
of the axis. The occasional 
substitution of one organ 
for another is carried to a 
far greater extent in the 
vegetable than ever appears, 
even occasionally, in the 
animal kingdom. As Dr. 
Masters remarks, the animal 
physiologist would regard as 
an incredible monstrosity 
the replacement of sperm- 
cells by germ-cells, or the 
converse ; although these 
are comparable to abnormal 
growths, of which several 
are recorded, where ovules 
are borne by stamens, or 
pollen is produced inside 
ovules. The two wood-cuts 
which we give illustrate 
these remarkable — trans- 
formations. 
De Candolle was the first 
systematic botanist to draw 
attention to the importance 
of Vegetable Teratology: he was followed by Moquin- 
Tandon, Morren, and others; and the great work of 
Tollen within Ovule of Passiflora 
i 
Ovule-bearing Anther of Cucurbita 
Moquin-Tandon has been followed by Dr. Masters in 
the main in classifying the phenomena under discus- 
sion. This classification of an enormous number of 
isolated facts presents considerable difficulties. It might 
at first sight appear as if the most natural arrange- 
ment would be to arrange under one head all the known 
modes of malformation or aberration of each organ : 
but this plan would involve much repetition, from the 
frequency with which it happens that similar organs are 
abnormally affected in the same manner; as when the 
parts of the calyx and corolla are both unduly increased 
in number. The plan adopted by Dr. Masters, though 
very artificial, possesses the advantage of clearness and of 
easy reference. He divides the phenomena of Teratology 
into four sections: 1, Deviations from ordinary Arrange- 
ment; 2, Deviations from ordinary Form; 3, Deviations 
from ordinary Number; 4, Deviations from ordinary 
Size and Consistence; each with several subdivisions. 
Until we know more of the cause of these variations from 
ordinary structure, a more scientific classification would 
appear to be hopeless. 
The work is essentially one of reference, a collection of 
facts rather than a statement of theories. An enormous 
number of instances, illustrative of every conceivable 
variation from normal structure, has been collected with 
unwearied assiduity from English and foreign records, 
and with that personal knowledge of the subject which few 
possess to so great a degree as the author. Where Dr. 
Masters so far strays from his subject as to enter into 
morphological questions, as when he discusses the irre- 
gular monandrous flower of Orchids, we are tempted to 
wish that he had permitted himself more digressions of 
the kind. 
The text is illustrated by a large number of woodcuts, 
original and copied, which add greatly to the clearness of 
the descriptions ; and not the least valuable portion of the 
work is the long list of references at the end of each section 
to papers and monographs bearing upon it, forming a 
complete bibliography of the subject. In the lists of plants 
which are mentioned as peculiarly subject to each de- 
scription of malformation, we could wish that more care had 
been taken not to designate the same plant by more than 
one scientific name, a practice confusing to the student. 
We also regret that in some instances recognised botanical 
terminology has been departed from; as in the distinction 
drawn by Lindley and Oliver between “regularity” and 
“symmetry.” These, however, are but minor defects in a 
work which we can cordially recommend to all students 
of botany, who are interested in the real structure of the 
various organs of plants. A. W. BENNETT 
ATTFIELD’S CHEMISTRY 
Chemistry : General, Medical, and Pharmaceutical, in- 
cluding the Chemistry of the British Pharmacop@ia. 
By John Attfield, Ph.D., F.C.S. 1 vol. pp. 624. 
(London: Van Voorst.) 
els book is mainly intended to supply the want of a 
manual more expressly suited to the requirements of 
students of medicine and of pharmacy. A work of this 
nature necessarily differs in many particulars from the 
ordinary run of chemical manuals, and it would be unjust, 
therefore, to judge of it altogether by the standards gene- 
rally employed in determining the degree of excellence of 
such books. It is obviously impossible for the medical 
student to make himself acquainted with the multitude of 
organic compounds known, the greater portion of which 
are simply interesting to the scientific chemist on account 
of the theoretical opinions based on them ; and hence it 
would manifestly be absurd to censure the author of this 
book for the fact that much of what constitutes modern 
