THE COROLLA. 4.03 
in their usual condition. In Odontoglosswm Alerandre. 
a similar reduction of parts has been observed by the 
author (fig. 199). 
It is curious to observe in these flowers how pre- 
cisely one sepal occupies the position of the labellum, 
and how the lateral petals are displaced from the posi- 
tion they usually occupy, so as to form a regular flower, 
the segments of which decussate, thus giving rise to a 
species of regular peloria. 
The genus Melenia was established on a malformed 
flower of Orchis of similar character to those above 
mentioned. 
Meiotaxy of the calyx.—As already mentioned, this 
term is here employed to denote those illustrations in 
which entire whorls are suppressed. Complete de- 
ficiency of the calyx in a dichlamydeous flower seems 
seldom or ever to occur; the nearest approach to it 
would be in those cases where the calyx is, as it is 
termed, “‘ obsolete,” but here it is chiefly the limb of 
the calyx which is atrophied, the lower portion being 
more or less adherent to the ovary. In what are termed 
monochlamydeous flowers both calyx and corolla are 
wanting, as in Salicinee and many other orders. 
Meiotaxy of the corolla.— Deficiency of the entire corolla 
occurs in conjunction with similar reductions in other 
organs, or as an isolated phenomenon in the many 
apetalous varieties of plants recorded in books. De- 
ficiency of the corolla was observed in Campanula per- 
foliata and Ruellia clandestina by Linné, who calls such 
blooms flores mutilati.' Drs. Hooker and Thomson 
relate a similar occurrence in Campanula canescens and 
C. colorata. Some plants seem as a normal occurrence 
to produce flowers of different construction, and are 
hence termed dimorphic, as in many Malpighiacee, 
Violacee, Ovalidacee, in some of the flowers of which 
the petals are altogether wanting, while in others the 
* «Phil. Bot.,”p. 119. 
