PETALODY. 285 
Among polysepalous plants petaloid sepals have 
been observed in Ranunculus awricomus, Rubus cesius, 
§c. Fleischer also describes a case of this kind in 
Carum carui.' 
It will be seen from the above that in the majority 
of cases there is no real metamorphosis or substitution 
of petal for calyx, but simply an alteration in colour ; 
nevertheless, a charge in form may accompany a 
change of colour: this happens especially if there has 
been any displacement of organs. Thus, if, inan orchi- 
daceous plant, a sepal be displaced from any cause, or 
a petal be twisted out of its natural position to occupy 
the place of an absent sepal, that petal will be sepal- 
like in form, and vice versd. 
Petalody of the stamens—A petaloid condition of the 
stamens is one of the commonest of all malformations. 
A large number of so-called double flowers (flores pleni)’ 
owe their peculiar appearance to this circumstance. 
It is necessary to distinguish carefully this petaloid 
development of the stamens from the corresponding 
condition of the pistils, and from that kind of doubling 
which is a result of multiplication of the corolla, as in 
Datura, Campanula, Primula, &c. (flores duplices, tri- 
plices, &c.), or from that produced by true median 
prolification (flores geminati, &c.). 
In cases of true petaloid development of the stamens 
there are usually numerous intermediate forms between 
that of the true petals and that of the perfect stamens ; 
indeed, in Nymphea, Canna, and in some other plants, 
such a transition occurs normally. Petalody of the 
stamens may occur either without material change in 
the flower or it may exist in combination or in con- 
junction with an increased development of parts (Mul- 
tiplication), or with a similar change in the carpels, 
and it is either partial or complete. 
1 Misbilld., ‘Cult. Gewachs.,’ p. 32. 
2 Linn., ‘ Phil. Botan.,’ § 120. 
