ADVENTITIOUS FLOWERS. 



267 



III. ADVENTITIOUS FLOWERS. 



These are rare. They have occurred in the ovary 

 of the lady's-smock [Gardamine pratensis) near the 

 place of origin of the ovules. Masters figures a 

 remarkable instance of a flower arising in the position 

 of an ovule in the pod of a wallflower ; it consisted of 

 an ovary only, there being no sign of stamens or floral 

 ■envelopes. 



He also figures a grape containg small, entire, stalked 

 grapes within it in the position of seeds (fig. 153). 



Fi0. 153. — Vitis vinifera (Grape). longitudinal section of fruit, 

 showing two adventitious grapes in the position • of seeds. (After 

 Masters.) 



Perhaps the most remarkable case of all, i. e. if it 

 really comes under this heading (where it may be 

 provisionally placed until the phenomenon is satisfac- 

 torily explained), is afforded by the Nepaul barley 

 {Hordeum coeleste trifurcatum or H. trifurcatum) . This 

 peculiar structure was thoroughly examined by the 

 present writer, and it has been described by many 

 authors in the past. It is enough to transcribe here 

 the account of it given by Penzig. 



"In all spikelets the inferior pale [bract] (much 

 more rarely the superior pale as well) shows a very 

 peculiar form : instead of, as is usually the case, 

 tapering and terminating in a long awn, it has at the 



