MR. M. T. MASTERS ON PROLIFICATION IN FLOWERS. 367 



famous St. Valery Apples, I am diffident in liazarding any opinion on tlie subject ; but it 

 is surely more reasonable to conceive a second row of carpels placed above the first by the 

 prolongation of tlie central part of the axis, than to suppose, in the words of Moquin-Tan- 

 don, "a prolificatiou combined with penetration and fusion of two or more flowers." 

 Supposing my view to be correct, the inner calyx-like whorl might be considered either 

 as a repetition of the calycine whorl, or, with more probability, it might be inferred that 

 the corolla was present in the guise of a second calyx. 



Moquin-Tandon suggests another explanation — feasible, indeed, but based upon no evi- 

 dence — namely, that though the stamens are absent in these curious flowers, at least in 

 their ordinary shape, they are represented by the lower row of carpels, which become, in 

 process of development, fused with the u.pper or true carpels. If this were so, surely some 

 intermediate conditions between stamen and carpel would occasionally be present ; but 

 such does not appear to be the case*. 



In some of the instances of proliferous Pears that are described, the carpels would 

 seem to be entirely absent, and the dilated portion of the axis to be alone repeated. Thus 

 the axis dilates to form the lower fruit without any true carpels being produced ; but at 

 its summit a whorl of leaves (sepals) is formed above them ; another swelHng of the axis 

 takes place also without the formation of carpels, and this, it may be, is terminated in 

 its turn by a branch producing leaves. In these cases there is no true prolification, but 

 simply an extension of the axis. That the outer portion (so-called calyx-tube) of these 

 fruits is really an axile product there can now be little doubt ; and, as if to show their 

 axile natm'e, they occasionally produce leaves from tlieu' sides as before mentioned. Some 

 other malformations usually referred to prolification of the fruit seem due to branching 

 of the inflorescence, as in Plantago, Wheat, Maize ; or to a simple extension of the axis 

 beyond its ordinary limit, as in the cones of Eu's, etc. It is obvious that the true fruits 

 in these cases are in no wise affected. 



From these considerations it would appear better to abandon the use of the expression 

 proHfication of the fruit, as unnecessary where it is really applicable, and as delusive in 

 the numerous cases where it is erroneously employed. 



It would lengthen this communication to no useful extent to remark upon the con- 

 dition of the adventitious growth itself. I have alluded to it when necessary, and shall 

 make no further comment on it than to say it may present itself in the ordinary condition 

 of leaf-bud, or flower-bud, or inflorescence, or that it may be malformed in various ways. 

 Any further notes that bear upon this subject that I may be able to bring forward, I 

 hope to have the honom* of laying before the Society in another communication on the 

 kinds of prolification not treated of on this occasion. 



* Moquin-Tandon, p. 386, &c. My attention has been called, since writing the above, to the case of an Apple, 

 mentioned by M. Trecul (in the Bull. Bot. Soc. France, torn. i. p. 307), in which the petals were in the same condition 

 as the sepals, and in which there were ten carpels replacing an equal number of stamens. M. Gay, in referring to this 

 specimen, stated that it was of the same character as the St. Valery Apple. 



VOL. XXIII. 3 D 



