Extracts from the Minute-Book of the Linnean Society. 691 



C. Harrison, Esq. 

 W. Harrison, Esq. 

 The Rev. F. W. Hope. 

 The Rev. L. Jenjms. 

 — . Jesse, Esq. 

 Rymer Jones, Esq. 

 W. H. Lloyd, Esq. 

 J. Martin, Esq. 

 J. Milne, Esq. 

 J. Morgan, Esq. 

 — . Moule, Esq. 

 J. Murray, Esq. 



J. Murray, Jun., Esq. 

 W. Ogilby, Esq. 

 R. Owen, Esq. 

 P. J. Selby, Esq. 

 R. H. SoUy, Esq. 

 R. Taylor, Esq. 

 W. Thompson, Esq. 

 Dawson Turner, Esq. 

 — . Van Voorst, Esq. 

 — . Willimott, Esq. 

 J. Wilson, Esq. 



Z>ec. 3. Read "Descriptions of some Vegetable Monstrosities.' By ttie 

 Rev, W. Hincks, F.L.S. 



Two of these monstrosities occur in species of Iris. The first is 

 in a flower of Iris versicolor, having 5 outer reflexed segments, 

 4 inner upright segments, 5 stamens, 5 distinct stigmas, and a 

 5-celled ovarium. It is evident that this superfluity of parts origin- 

 ates in the union of two flowers : the line of junction of the flower- 

 stalks may be distinctly traced ; and the composition of the ovarium 

 is equally obvious, three of the carpels belonging to one flower and 

 two to the other. Mr. Hincks states that this exactly corresponds 

 with the case of some monstrous Q^notherce, in which he has observed 

 7 petals, 14 stamens, and 7 stigmas, but where no line of junction 

 of the two flowers of which he supposes them to be made up is 

 visible. In all these cases one part of each circle is sacrificed in the 

 union of the two flowers, except in the inner segments of the Iris, 

 where one part of each flower is lost. In the second case, occurring 

 in a flower of Iris sambucina, 3 segments of the inner series only 

 remain, while there are 5 parts in all the other circles : the line of 

 junction is much less evident than in the former, but maybe observed 

 in the ovarium and tube of the perianthium. 



Mr. Hincks compares these cases with monstrosities in his collec- 

 tion of Narcissus elatior and Salpiglossis straminea ; in the former of 

 which two flowers adhere, and are both perfect, the united petals 

 and nectaries separating one from the other ; while in the latter 



VOL. XVIII. 4 X 



