368 



TERATOLOGY — SUPPRESSION OF ORGANS. 



unfit for its functions, and is called neuter. Flowers having stamens 

 only are staminiferous, staminal, sterile; those having pistils only are 

 pistilliferous, pistillate, OT fertile. The suppression of various verticils, 



644. 645. 646. 647. 648. 649. 



and parts of them, is well seen in the family of the Euphorbiacese (figs. 

 644-649). Thus, in fig. 644 is delineated an apetalous trimerous 

 staminal flower ; in fig. 645 one of the stamens is suppressed, and in 

 fig. 646 two of them are wanting. Again, in figs. 647, 648, 649, 

 the calyx is suppressed, and its place occupied by one, two, or three 

 bracts (so that the flower is, properly speaking, achlamydeous), and 

 only one or two stamens are produced. In fig. 649, 1, there is a sterile 

 flower, consisting of a single stamen with a bract ; and in fig. 649, '2, 

 a fertile flower,*consisting of a single carpel with a bract. There is 



thus traced a degradation, 

 as it is called, from a 

 flower with three stamens 

 and three divisions of the 

 calyx, to one with a single 

 bract and a single stamen 

 or carpel. 



It is common to find 

 some of the buds of a plant 

 suppressed, thus altering 

 the spiral arrangement. 

 Such buds, however, are 

 often capable of being de- 

 veloped, if any accident 

 Deficiency of light and of air, and 



Figs. 644-649. Diagrams of flowers of Euphorbiaceous plants, TDecoming more and more 

 simple. (1.) The calyx is the only envelope, and consists of three parts, in iigs. 644, 645, 

 and 646. It is completely suppressed in flgs. 647, 648, and 649, and its place is occupied by 

 a bract, in the axil of which the flower is produced ; this bract being accompanied in 

 flgs. 647 and 648 with two small bractlets. (2.) The male flowers in flg. 644 have three 

 stamens, in figs. 645 and 646 they have two, in figs. 646 and 648 one stamen only is developed, 

 and in fig. 649, 1, the solitary stamen has only one anther-lobe. (3.) The female flower in 

 fig. 649, 2, is reduced to a single carpel, with a bract in the axil of which it is produced. 

 Fig. 644. Diagram of a staminiferous flower of Tragia cannabina. Fig. 645. Diagram of a 

 staminiferous flower of Tragia volubilis. Fig. 646. Diagram of a staminiferous flower of 

 Anthostema senegalense. Fig. 647. Diagram of a staminiferous flower of Adenopeltis 

 colliguaya. Fig. 648. Diagram of a staminiferous flower of a Euphorbia. Fig. 649. 



1, Diagram of a staminiferous flower of Naias minor. 2, Of a pistiliferous flower of Naias 

 major. Fig. 650. Capitula of Daisy, in which small tufts of greenish leafy scales occupy 

 the place of the flowers. A represents the Capitulum of the Daisy with tufts of leaves in 

 place of flowers, and a leaf on the scape. B, Section of the Capitulum. C, Section through 

 one of the leafy tufts. 



occurs, or if the plant is pruned. 



