G. M. Tuomson.—On Cleistogamic Flowers of the Genus Viola. — 415 
over the crises of diseases, or enable exertion or effort to be sustained, when 
withoutit death or very severe disease would ensue. But it will be well 
here to insist that it be in all cases swallowed, and not used by sub- 
cutaneous injection, as it thus acts quite differently in some respects, and 
is modified in others, and would always be better given medicinally in that 
way, than when subcutaneously injected, as when swallowed it is mixed 
with the saliva and gastric fluids, which modify its action, whereas if 
injected under the skin it is absorbed, and acts in a differ ent, as well as a 
more sudden and violent manner. I am not now able to speak as to the 
doses that will be most beneficial, as my supply of Pituri is exhausted, but 
small and repeated doses of the leaves, or a powder thereof masticated, or 
mixed with some linctus, or in the form of lozenges, so that it will be well 
mixed with the saliva, are the best forms of using it. But as it can be more 
fully studied, no doubt other facts will reveal themselves with regard to it 
and to its uses and proper place in the materia medica. At all events, if 
these observations cause others to examine this important agent, and when 
it is better known, and health is gained or life is saved by this drug, my 
object in bringing this matter before the Society will be gained. 
Art. LX.— Notes on Cleistogamic Flowers of the Genus Viola. 
By Grorcr M. Tuomson. 
[Read before the Otago Institute, 14th May, 1878.) 
Ir is a well-known fact that, owing to the poverty of insect life in these 
islands, the number of entomophilous plants, i.e., those requiring insect aid in 
securing fertilization, is small in comparison with most other parts of the 
world. Hence, also, the comparative want of gaily-coloured flowers, and the 
prevalence of white, green, and inconspicuous flowers. As every fact 
bearing on the question of fertilization of flowers gives us additional insight 
into the relations of the indigenous fauna and flora, I make no further 
apology for communicating the following notes to the Institute. 
There are many plants which produce two kinds of hermaphrodite 
flowers, viz., tolerably large and conspicuous flowers, fitted for cross-fertili- 
zation by means of insects, and small, closed ones, more or less depauperated, 
and sometimes produced underground, fitted only for self-fertilization. These 
last are known as Cleistogamic (Gr. kleistos, closed; gamos, union). In Dar- 
win's latest botanical work, “On Different Forms of Flowers," there is 
given & list of fifiy-fivo genera, certain species of which produce these 
flowers, Of the genus Viola, fifteen species are named, which produce, 
