922 2 - "S actvel and Ph Iysioleg ical Botan | 
| Such j mstances of rhlie Pith zy are common in the 7 
nos, and especially in clover. 
Instances of progresseve metamorphosis are ree ieee 
common, though a number are to be met with. The most 
common example is the metamorphosis of petals into sta- 
mens. It is not uncommon to find the shepherd’s purse, 
Capsella bursa-pastorts, with ten stamens and no petals, the 3 
~normal number being four petals and six stamens. A-me- 
-tamorphosis of stamens into carpels is also not unusual in 
willows, making them apparently moncecious, whereas they - 
are normally dicecious. 
Changes of form arising from the metamorphosis of 
whole parts of plants may be divided into four groups :—the | 
solution of flowers or Antholysis, Prolification, Gemmation, 
and the Metamorphosis of Buds. By antholyszs is meant 
those separations of the parts of the flower by which their 
relative number and position are so altered that the nor- 
mal construction is completely concealed. Proltfication is 
the elongation of the apex of the floral axis above the 
flower, where it bears fresh buds, leaves, and flowers, as 
occurs normally in the syncarp of the pine-apple, and not 
unfrequently in roses [and pears]. Gemmation is the pro- 
duction of buds in the axils of the floral leaves, which then 
develope into new flowers or inflorescences, as 1s not un- 
frequently the case in the capitula of »Scabiosa and Dip- 
sacus. Finally, it is not uncommon for leaf- or flower-buds 
to be transformed into fleshy bodies with small scale-lke- 
leaves and a very short fleshy axis. These buds, which 
often serve as a reservoir for the reception of assimilated 
~ reserve-materials, very commonly grow, when detached from 
their parent-plants, into independent plants. Species in 
-which this phenomenon commonly occurs [as Polygonum 
viviparum, Poa vivipara, &c.|, are called wviparous. In- 
the above and some other species it occurs normally, and is ~ 
‘not uncommon in many natural orders, as Liliaceze, Grami-. 
nex, Cyperaceze, and Juncacez. ‘he buds in the axils of 
