MACALISTEK — ON AN ABNORMAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE SNOWBERRY. 105 



two from the other. I have, however, preserved these and fastened 

 them to the upper part of the sheet of talc on which they are mounted. 

 These leaves, as may be seen, are closely connected at the base, and 

 their midribs seem to be continuous with the woody bundles on the 

 outer coating of the berry. These leaves appear to me to be a modified 

 calycine whorl, from their position, and form a striking illustration of 

 the law of morphology established by Goethe — that all the parts of the 

 flower are modified leaves. All such monstrosities are interesting, as 

 showing the operations of the ordinary causes which produce the growth 

 of these parts under unusual circumstances. 



I might mention, in passing, the curious fact in relation to the ovary 

 of this plant which was noticed by Robert Brown — that in the im- 

 mature condition it consists of four cells, two of which are many- 

 seeded, and two single-seeded ; but in the mature berry there are only 

 two loculi, which correspond to the one-seeded cells, as the many-seeded 

 cells become undeveloped and abortive. 



Goppert, in the "Proceedings of the Silesian Society," notices a 

 curious instance of metamorphosis somewhat similar, occurring in a 

 plant of Tragopogon orientale, in which the pappus was changed into 

 small lancet-like pointed leaves, and even some of the filaments were 

 similarly metamorphosed. 



Dr. Moore said the specimen shown was a remarkable example of 

 abnormal formation, where the fruit was "inferior." It showed the 

 truth of the doctrine propounded by Goethe, that all the parts of a flower 

 are merely modified leaves. A number of small strawberries may some- 

 times be found growing round the base of a common strawberry. But 

 the strawberry being a "superior" fruit, and having the calyx under- 

 neath, that made the difference in the position of the abnormal for- 

 mation. The nature of the development was, however, the same in 

 both cases. Few plants with inferior fruits presented anything like 

 what was exhibited ; but with superior fruits it was more to be expected 

 and more common. 



Mr. R. P. Williams said he had seen examples of the Snowberry in 

 which the stem seemed to have passed right through the top of the fruit, 

 and then a number of small fruit were produced upon the new extremity. 

 He had had in his own possession specimens of the Snowberry growing 

 in the way he described, but the plant which had produced these 

 curious examples had been unfortunately dug up. 



The Society was then adjourned until the first Friday in April. 



FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1864. 



Robebt Callwell, M. R. I. A., V. P., in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the preceding meeting, havhig been read, were con- 

 firmed. 



