PHYLLODY OF THE FLORAL WHORLS. 305 



Pistils -whicli have reverted to a more or less foliaceons 

 character bear ovules whicli often become foliaceons as 

 well ; and then a not nncommon proceduro is the develop- 

 ment of a cup-like structure, probably composed of the two 

 ovular coats, on an elongated stalk, with a rudimentary 

 nucellus within, but more or less perfectly free from it ; or 

 it may not exist at all. 



The late Professor Henslow described a monstrous con- 

 dition of Mignonette with figures of ovules in this condition.* 

 They were sometimes 

 replaced by minute 

 leaves (Fig. 85, c) ; or 

 else in the place of 

 each was a cnp-like 

 structure, elevated 

 on a long stalk, with 

 an egg-like nucellus 

 within, but quite free 

 from it. He likened 



it to tbe theca of a pig. 55 Follaceous and metamorphosed ovulea of Mlgno- 



moss with its central °'"' ('"*' ^°^- •'■ ^- Hensiow). 



columella. Comparing these two modifications, represented 

 by Fig. 85, a and h with c, — or, again, those of Fig. 86, a 

 and 6, — the interpretation seems to be that the fibro-vascnlar 

 cord passing up the funicle of the omle becomes a petiole, 

 and its prolongation constitutes the mid-rib. The secundine 

 and primine with intermediate tissue become the blade, as 

 seen in the foliaceous states of ovules, and constitute the 

 " cup " when they assume that form. 



A similar process, I think, quite explains the origin oE 

 tbe foliaceous processes of the stamen of Jatropha, repre- 

 sented by Fig. 84. The entire stamen is, of course, really 

 * Trans. Camh. Phil. Soc, vol. r. 



