260 



Structure of Flowers of Adoxa moschatellina. 



1. The calyx. This whorl varies both in the terminal and lateral 

 flowers, with 2, 3, or 4 sepals. In the latter case 3 of the sepals 

 were observed to alternate with 4 petals, and the fourth sepal to be 

 opposite a fifth petal. 



De Candolle does not consider this whorl as a true calyx, but calls 

 the corolla a calyx. This reduces the sepals to bracteae, and as 

 these are combined, the whorl must be considered as an involucrum. 

 In this case we have the tube of the involucrum combining with the 

 lower half of the ovarium, and also uniting with the calyx and sta- 

 mens. There seems to be no sufficient reason for admitting such 

 an anomaly, and the view usually taken appears to be preferable. 



2. The Corolla. This is always composed of either 4 or 5 petals, 

 which cohere by their bases and to the upper edge of the calyx, 

 where it becomes free from the ovarium. Some of the petals are 

 sometimes opposite and sometimes alternate with the sepals, which 

 they exceed in number by 1, 2, or 3 parts. 



3. The Stamens. These are placed very evidently in pairs, a sin- 

 gle stamen of each pair standing on either side of the sinus formed 

 by the union of two contiguous petals. Fig. 2. 



De Candolle asserts that half are oppo- 

 site, and half alternate, with the petals. 

 This view must be ascribed to a desire 

 to obviate the apparent anomaly of their 

 being neither opposite nor strictly alter- 

 nate with the petals, but it is decidedly 

 inadmissible. He has not observed that 



the anthers consist of a single lobe, nor can I discover that this fact 

 has been previously noticed by any author except Dr Hooker, who 

 in his Flora Scotica has the following remark : " Stamens united in 

 'pairs, or they may be considered as 4 or 5 forked stamens, each 

 ramification terminated by a single cell of an anther, and all spring- 

 ing from a fleshy ring that surrounds the germen." 



I was ignorant of this observation, but was led to make the same 

 remark last spring, by reflecting in Fig. 3. 



what way it would be possible to re- 

 duce the anomalous structure of this 

 flower to some normal condition, in 

 which the parts of the several whorls 

 would be arranged agreeably to the 

 generally established rules of morphology. De Candolle's view ap- 

 peared to be quite untenable. Upon examining a great number of 

 specimens, I observed in many instances a very decided tendency 





