May 1, 1865.] 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



103 



ON SOME IMPEREECTLY DEVELOPED 

 FLOWERS. 



By Robert Holland. 



G J ANTS and dwarfs, fat boys, Siamese twins, 

 and such-like mis-shapen monsters, are exhibi- 

 tions wliich ave much sought after by the gaping 

 multitude. And yet there is something exceedingly 

 repulsive in such sights, and really very little, if 

 anything, to be learned from them in a scientific 

 point of view. 



There are plenty of monstrosities, too, in the 

 vegetable kingdom, like Siamese twins, giants, 

 dwarfs, nondescripts, and other apparent mistalces 

 in nature's handiwork ; but here, strange to say, 

 there is nothing unpleasant to contemplate, and 

 they also differ from animal monstrosities in offering 

 no attraction to any, save those who make natural 

 history their study ; but such imperfect specimens 

 are always of great interest to the physiologist, as 

 teaching him facts relative to the life and growth of 

 plants, that a perfect flower would never have told 

 him. 



I have taken notes, and generally made drawings 

 of a considerable number of these cuiious forms 

 that have come within my observation, some of 

 which may interest a few of the readers of Science- 

 Gossip. I have taken them from my portfolio at 

 random, without any regard to the sequence of time 

 when they were found. 



Twin Peas (fig, 68), gathered in 1861. These 

 wei*e two perfect and full-sized pods proceeding 

 from one calyx; the stalk quite single, showing 



Fig, Cs— Tv/iN Pbas. 



that it was not two flowers anastomosed together, 

 as is not unfrequently seen, but that the pea blossom 

 had contained two pistils. 



Hedge Woundwort, Stachys sylvatica (fig. 69), 

 gathered at Cii-encester in 1849. In these specimens 

 the calyx was in every ease imchanged. Corolla in 

 all cases monopetalous, but the segments somewhat 



enlarged, rounded, nearly equal in size, greenish in 

 colour, and distinctly marked with branched veins 

 like a leaf. Stamens absent. Pistils foliaceous 

 consisting of two leaflets united at their bases 

 forming a tube, but spreading upwards into two 

 distinct leaves. Ovules also foliaceous, consisting 



Fig. 69. — Hedge Wouitdwor-t. 

 a, Flavver. h. Pistil, c. Pistil laid open. 



of four minute green leaves attached to the inside 

 of the ovary, with an indication of a petiole to each 

 from the receptacle. I since found a complete 

 plantation of similar flowers in Cheshire, but I do 

 not remember the exact date, though I know the 

 precise spot, which I have revisited several times, 

 in the hope of finding more specimens, but always 

 without any success. 



Charlock, Sinapis arvensis (fig. 70), gathered at 

 Cirencester in 1849. In this specimen almost every 



T\%. 70.— Charlock (twice the natural size). 



flower was foliaceous, the sepals and petals being 

 partially or altogether converted into leaves, of an 

 obovate, almost lyrate form, tapering at the base, in 

 colour either quite green, or yellow wath a strong 



