BOTANICAT. SUBJECTS. 



353 



In spmi-doublo varieties, the sheath divides into a fringe, made 

 up of long and short segments, as sho^vn in Fig. 157. 



Zn./A 



Fi^. 157. Slieath of a semi-double Fig. 158. Remnants of the sheath 

 P. Mmilan, spread out. of a double P. Montan, spread out. 



In still more doiil)le varieties the sheath is further dwarfed 

 into a whorl of teeth of a deep purple colour surrounding the 

 carpels, as shown in Fig. 158. 



In other cases only a .segment of the sheath is seen here and 

 there, as a big purple tooth. 



Then in the most double specimens no trace of the purple 

 segments couLl be found. In their place surrounding the carpels 

 was a ring of small pale petals, Avithin these in one specimen I 

 found .seven short stamens, two of which were petaloid. The 

 sheath was either not developed or it was converted into petals 

 and stamens. 



In one case among the normal stamens I found several short 

 filaments without anthers. Tlu-se were indislinguishable from the 

 points which make up the fringe of the sheath margin. 



In very double sjiccinuMis th(^ order of dispo.sition is the 

 following : — 



Rows of broad an<l loundcd )>etals ; 



Rows of stamens ; 



Rows of narrow fringed petals ; 



Rows of stamens again ; 



Dwarfed sheaf, split up into small segments ; 

 And in the centre the carpels. 



On the whole the carpel sheath of tli;' P. Moutan is verv 

 persi.stent, and is not readily got lid of by doul)ling, although it is 

 much dwarfed in the very double ones, an<l in many cases reduced 

 to simple ])urple teeth, scattered round the base of the carpel tuft 

 of petals (petaloid carpels). 



From a great number of observations I maUe, I came to the 

 conclusion that the .sheath of the P. Moutan is a fasciation of 



A p. 1724. 2 



