SUPPRESSION. 393 
obliterated by the pressure exercised by the constantly 
increasing bulk of adjacent parts, or possibly has 
become incorporated with them. In the adult flower 
the appearances are the same, though the causes may 
have been different. 

CHAPTER I. 
SUPPRESSION OF AXILE ORGANS. 
ABSOLUTE suppression of the main axis is tantamount 
to the non-existence of the plant, so that the terms 
“acaulescent,” ‘‘acaulosia,’ &c., must be considered 
relatively only, and must be taken to signify an atro- 
phied or diminished size of the stem, arising from the 
non-development of the internodes. 
The absence of lateral branches or divisions of the 
axis is of frequent occurrence, and is dependent on 
such causes as the following :—deficient supply of 
nutriment, position against a wall or other obstacle, 
close crowding of individual plants, too great or too 
little light, too rich or too poor a soil, &e. 
Probably the absence of the swollen portion below 
the flower in the case of many proliferous roses, double- 
flowered apples, as already referred to, may be depen- 
dent on the non-development of the extremity of the 
peduncle or flower-stalk. Thus, in a double-flowered 
apple recently examined, there was a sort of involucel of 
five perfect leaves, then five sepals surrounding an equal 
number of petals, numerous stamens, and five styles, 
but not a trace of an expanded axis, nor of any portion 
of the carpels, except the styles. The views taken as 
to the nature of this and similar malformations must 
depend on the opinion held as to the nature of inferior 
pistils, and on the share, if any, that the expanded axis 
takes in their production. As elsewhere said, the 
