142 Miscellaneous. 



processes similarly situated in other genera, as in Diuris. And the third 

 stamen of the inner series, still more altered in form, may be consi- 

 dered as present in certain New Holland genera, especially Glossodia, 

 where this supposed stamen is placed within the labellum, but entirely 

 distinct from it, in Epiblema, Pterostylis, and Chiloglottis, in which an 

 analogous appendage similarly situated coheres in various degrees with 

 that division of the perianthium ; and perhaps it may be considered as 

 indicated in all cases where the labellum is furnished with a process, 

 however minute, arising from its axis. 



If the view here taken of the position of the lateral filaments in 

 Cypripedium and Diuris be adopted, it may be remarked that indications 

 or rudiments of the two stamina necessary to complete the number in 

 orchidea, of those, namely, corresponding with the lateral segments of 

 the outer series of the perianthium, have not yet been observed in the 

 regular structure of any plant of the order. They have however been 

 occasionally met with in monstrous flowers of Habenaria bifolia, in more 

 than one spike of which I have found the greater number of flowers 

 triandrous, the three anthera being equidistant, and placed exactly 

 opposite to the three divisions of the outer series of the perianthium, 

 the inner series of which remains in its ordinary state. 



In 1826, in appendix to Denham and-v 



m i. » rr. „,„ „ OQ ^ > Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holl. i. p. 309. 



Clapperton s Iravels, p. 237 ) v 



M. Achille Richard 3 has given an account of an analogous mon- 

 strosity in Orchis latifolia. In this case of a triandrous Orchis, M. 

 Richard having adopted the opinion, which I believe I was the first to 

 advance, 4 of the origin or nature of the auricula of the anthera of many 

 genera of Orchidea, considers the additional anthera as formed by the 

 perfect development of these auricula. This view however cannot be 

 taken of the monstrosity of Habenaria bifolia, in which not only the 

 auricula of the anterior or ordinary stamen are distinctly present, but 

 two other similar processes, one on the anterior side of each of the ad- 

 ditional anthera, also exist, a fact which throws considerable doubt on 

 the correctness of the view here referred to of the nature of these pro- 

 cesses in Orchidece, unless the same hypothesis could likewise be extend- 

 ed to all cases of trifid filaments, as those of Allium and Dentzia, to 

 which the auricula in Orchidea may be said to be analogous. 



In Scitaminea, the family most nearly akin to Orchidece, the com- 

 plete number of stamina may be considered very generally present. 

 Only one, however, is antheriferous ; and this perfect stamen, instead 



3 M&m. de a Soc. d'Hist. Nat. de Paris i. p. 202. 



4 Prced. Fl. Nov. Holl. i. pp. 309 and 311. 



