372 TERATOLOGY — MULTIPLICATION AKD CHORIZATION. 



run in several regular lines from the centre to the circumference. 

 Again, by this process of deduplication it is supposed one stamen may- 

 give rise to several. Thus, in Luhea paniculata (fig. 348, 

 p. 219), in place of five stamens there are five bundles, 

 composed partly of sterile filaments f s, and partly of 

 filaments bearing anthers, fa; and each of these bundles 

 is traced to a deduplication of a single stamen, inasmuch 

 as they arise from one point, and do not follow the law 

 of alternation. This process, therefore, repeats the single 

 organs, and causes opposition of parts. Such cases may 

 be explained by supposing each stamen to represent a com- 

 pound leaf, or a single leaf divided in a digitately-partite 

 manner (p. 219). In the case of the four long stamens of 

 Fig. 66a. Cruciferse (p. 364), chorization is said to take place by a 

 splitting of the filaments of two stamens ; and thus the two stamens 

 on each side are, by gemination (gemini, twins), normally one. This 

 view is supported by cases in which the filaments of the long stamens 

 are more or less united ; also by cases in which the shorter filaments 

 exhibit tooth-like processes on either side, while the longer ones have 

 them only on the outer side. In such cases the two long filaments, 

 if united, would present the same appearance as the shorter ones, and 

 occupy their usual position of alternation with the petals. In some 

 instances, by pelorination (■rsAwg/os, monstrous), it is found that tetra- 

 dynamous plants become tetrandrous, with stamens of equal length 

 alternating with the petals. 



The mdde of explaining anomalies is well illustrated by Darwin's 

 view of the formation of the flower of an Orchid (fig. 656). According 

 to him " An Orchid flower consists of five simple parts — namely, 

 three sepals and two petals ; and of two compounded parts — namely, 

 the column and labellum. The column is formed of three pistils, and 

 generally of four stamens, all completely confluent. The labellum is 

 formed of one petal and two petaloid stamens of the outer whorl, 

 likewise completely confluent. " This view of the nature of the 

 labellum explains its large size, its frequently tripartite form, and 

 especially its manner of coherence to the column, unlike that of the 

 other petals. As rudimentary organs vary much, we can thus also 

 probably understand the variability of the excrescences on the labellum. 

 With respect to the six stamens or anthers which ought to be repre- 

 sented in every Orchid, the three belonging to the outer whorl are 

 always present, with the upper one generally fertile, and the two 

 lower ones invariably petaloid and forming part of the labellum ; the 

 three stamens of the inner whorl are less plainly developed, especially 

 the lower one, which, when it can be detected, serves only to strengthen 



Fig. 655. Petal of Ranunculus Ficaria, viewed on the inside. I, The limb, a. Small 

 scaly appendage at its base, formed by chorization or dilaminatiou. 



