By Mr. John Lindley. 



313 



abortive, or, that it at once reverts to the state of a leaf, thus 

 assuming the original simple form of which it would in its per- 

 fect state be a modification : as happens in what are termed 

 proliferous flowers ; but I am not aware that any example 

 exists of the ovarium ever indicating the smallest disposition 

 to become a stamen, or to retrograde ; if altered, it either 

 becomes abortive, or reverts to its primitive type ; as in the 

 double Cherry mentioned* by Sir James Edward Smith, 

 in which the ovary had changed to a leaf of the ordinary 

 appearance. 



The contrary of this, namely the change of stamens into 

 ovarium, in which the progressive action takes place, must 

 be familiar to the recollection of many. The curious case of 

 the Common Wall-flower (Cheiranthus Cheiri) in certain indi- 

 viduals of which the stamens constantly undergo this altera- 

 tion, is one instance ; that of the House-leek (Sempervivum 

 tectorum) the anthers of which are frequently filled with 

 ovula instead of pollen, affords another, and the double Bar- 

 badoes Lily, the subject of this communication, is a new 

 instance. 



Of this plant the petals were in the usual position and 

 state, except that at their points of union at the base, was a 

 slight tendency to distortion. Inside of them were nine 

 other petals, quite similar to the exterior, and like them 

 united at the base in an irregularly imbricated way. These I 

 consider to be merely supernumerary petals, no tendency to an 

 alteration of form being perceptible in them. Next these in 

 the inside were nine other petal-like leaves, which were 



* Introduction to Botany, Edit. 5, page 220. 



