408 MEIOTAXY. 
Meiotaxy of the parts of the flower in general—In the pre- 
ceding sections suppression has been considered as it 
affected individual members of a whorl or separate 
whorls. It rarely happens, however, that the suppres- 
sion 18 limited in this way. More generally several of 
the parts of the flower are simultaneously affected in 
the same manner. 
A few illustrations are all that is necessary to give 
as to this point. 
One of the most familiar instances is that of the 
cauliflower or broccoli, where the common flower-stalk 
is inordinately thickened and fleshy, while the corolla 
and inner parts of the flower are usually entirely 
suppressed ; the four sepals can, however, generally be 
detected. 
Maximowiez describes a Stellaria (Kraschenikovia) 
in which the upper flowers are male only, while the 
lower ones, which ultimately become buried in the 
soil, have neither petals, stamens, nor styles, but the 
walls of the capsule are fleshy, and enclose numerous 
seeds.' 
Karschleger’ mentions a variety of Lonicera Capri- 
jolium, which was not only destitute of petals but of 
stamens also. | 
In some species of Muscari and Bellevalia the upper- 
most flowers of the raceme show more or less complete 
suppression of almost all the part of which the flower 
normally consists. In those cases where an imperfect 
perianth exists, but in which the stamens and pistils. 
are entirely suppressed, Morren applies the term 
Cenanthy, xevoc, empty. 
Complete suppression of the flower—It is not necessary 
in this place to allude to that deficient production of 
flowers characteristic of what is termed by gardeners 
a “sky bloomer.’ In such plants often the requisite 
conditions are not complied with, and the skill of the 
1 *Primit. Flor. Amurens,’ p. 57, 
* Flora,’ 1848, p. 484. 
