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XXVIII. Observations upon the natural Laws which govern 

 the Production of Double Flowers, arising out of a re- 

 markable Case of Preternatural Formation in the Flowers 

 of an Amaryllis. By Mr. John Lindley, F.L. S., §c. fyc. 

 Assistant Secretary for the Garden. 



Read December 6, 1825. 



In September last, some dried roots of a plant called the 

 Double Barbadoes Lily were, with several other things, sent 

 to the Horticultural Society by Mr. John Herbert, Super- 

 intendent of the Botanic Garden St. Vincent's, by the desire 

 of His Excellency Sir Charles Brisbane, the Governor of that 

 Island. Upon blossoming last month in the stove, the Lily 

 proved to be a variety of Amaryllis crocata, in which so con- 

 siderable an alteration of the parts of fructification had taken 

 place, as to produce a very handsome double flower. It is not 

 however for the purpose of bringing into notice this particular 

 variety, which has not now been introduced for the first time, 

 that I submit the following observations, but for the sake of 

 recording one of the most singular instances of preternatural 

 formation with which I am acquainted in the vegetable king- 

 dom, and which appears to me to confirm an opinion I have 

 for some time entertained, respecting the laws which regulate 

 the production of double flowers. 



It is well known that the cause of that kind of monstrosity 

 which is commonly called a double flower, is either the mul- 



vol. vi, S s 



