232 



PRINCIPLES OF PLANT-TERATOLOGY. 



is presented of the upper of the two flowers arising 

 from the axil of one of the floral members of the lower 

 one ; the inflorescence above the lower flower is repre- 

 sented only by the upper flower and has become 

 almost entirely absorbed by the lower main flower. 

 In G t/pripedium the upper part of the whole inflore- 

 scence is often present and bears two or more flowers ; 

 sometimes it is completely absent, having aborted, so 



Fig. 140. — Tulipa Gesneriana (Garden Tulip). Adhesion of peduncles 

 of two lateral flowers to the peduncle of the main terminal flower. 

 (J. Weathers.) 



that the flower spoken of above as the lower one, 

 originally lateral in position and one of a number, 

 comes to be unique and perfectly terminal. This is 

 the same phenomenon as in the vine-stem, in which the 

 stronger lateral axis becomes terminal and pushes the 

 terminal axis into a lateral position ; in the Gi/pri- 

 pedinm the extra complication of fusion between the 

 two axes has occurred ; this has also been described as 

 occurring in the vine. 



Here also may be placed those cases in which tulip- 



