178 ALTERATION OF POSITION. 
Formation of buds on fruits—'l'his is a pomt of some 
moment with reference to the share which the axis 
takes im the production of ‘‘inferior” fruits. A very 
frequent malformation in pears is one wherein a 
second pear proceeds from the centre of the first, and 
even a third from the centre of the second.’ Pears 
are occasionally also observed arising either from the 
axils of the sepals of the primary pear or from the axil 
of leaves originating on the outer surface of the fruits— 
using the term fruit in its popular sense. These cases 
afford strong confirmation of the view that the outer 
portion of the so-called fruit in these plants is rather 
to be considered as an expansion and hollowing-out of 
the flower-stalk, than as formed from the calyx-tube. 
It is noteworthy that the true carpels and seeds are 
frequently entirely absent in these cases.” Further 
reference to these fruits will be made under the head 
of Hypertrophy. 
M. Trécul has described and figured an instance in 
a species of Prismatocarpus, in which a second flower 
proceeded from the axil of a bract attached to the 
side of the fruit of the first flower.’ A similar growth 
was observed in the fruit of Philadelphus speciosus by 
M. A. Gris, who observed that the so-called calyx-tube 
was provided with two small bracts, from the axil of 
one of which proceeded a small flower-bud.* 
The fruits of Opuntia Salmiana, O. fragilis,’ O. mona- 
cantha, and of some species of Hchinocactus, have been 
observed to form small fruit-like branches around their 
summits. M. Napoléon Doumet describes the fruit as 
ripening as usual, but as being destitute of seeds m the 
interior ; after a little while the fruit begins to wither, 
1 Moquin-Tandon, p. 384; also Lindl., ‘ Elements of Botany,’ p. 65, 
fig. 130; ** Theory of Horticulture,” p. 86. ‘ Gard. Chron.,’ 1851, p. 723; 
Irmish, ‘ Flora,’ 1858, p. 38, &c. 
* Caspary, ‘ Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr.,’ vol. vi, 1859, p. 235; also Payer, ibid., 
vol. i, 1854, p. 283. 
3 Trécul, ‘ Ann. Sc. Nat.,’ 2nd ser., vol. xx, p. 339. 
4 «Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr.,’ vol. vii, 1858, p. 331. 
* «Bull. Soe. Bot. Fr.,’ vol. 1, p. 306, vol. v, p. 115. ‘ Illustr. Hortie.,’ 
xii, 1865, Mise. 79. ‘ Rev. Horticole,’ 1860, p. 204, et 1867, p. 43. 
