THMl KINSHIPS OF TEE FLOWER 205 



petals are adventitious growths (that is, appear- 

 ing in unaccustomed places, neither from pre- 

 viously formed buds nor as transformations of 

 other parts). This method of doubling is common; 

 and even those plants in which the stamens and 

 pistils are transformed, may develop many more 

 petals than there are essential organs in the normal 

 flower. This shows again, therefore, that the flower, 

 like the leaf and the branch, is 

 a plastic structure, capable of be- 

 ing greatly modified. 



234. Plants which are kept 

 in a very vigorous condition of 

 growth generally bloom compara- 

 tively less than those which are 

 making small growth. We have 



° ° Fig. 200. 



already seen (8) that checking „ v, *, • i ., 



•I ^ ' o Double-flowermg almond. 



growth may induce fruitfulness. 

 The gardener knows that if he would make his 

 plants bloom profusely he must be careful not 

 to grow them in too large pots, else the growth 

 will be very great and at the expense of bloom. 

 There is thus seen to be a most intimate rela- 

 tionship between vegetative growth and iloral 

 growth. 



235. All these considerations lead us to believe 

 that the parts of flowers and leaves are modified 

 forms of one type or kind of plant structure. 



