TBE KIN SB I PS OF THE FLOWJUR 



203 



(The carpels are usually five, but the number 

 varies to four.) Although the foliaceous carpels 

 of this sterculia are an uncommon type, they are 

 not unique. Moreover, 

 the pods of many 

 plants split at ma- 

 turity into more or 

 less leaf -like portions. 

 These facts suggest 

 that even the pistil 

 may be akin to a leaf. 



232. The very best proof 

 that the essential organs and 

 the leaf are derived from 

 similar sources is afforded 

 by "double flowers." Fig. 

 198 is a double carnation 

 flower. The extra petals 

 (which make the flower full, 

 or double) are plainly trans- 

 formed stamens. They not 

 only occupy the places of 

 the ten stamens, but al- 

 most any bouquet of carnations will show various 

 intermediate forms. In the picture there are anther 

 locules transformed into petal -like bodies. This 

 picture should be compared with the normal or 

 single carnation in Fig. 152. The common double 



Fig. 398. 



Double carnation 

 flower. 



