132 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



which scientists have decided the plant has the power of con- 

 suming for nourishment. Thoreau says the odor of the beauti- 

 ful and unusual flowers suggests that of sandal wood. 



AN ABNORMAL TWAYBLADE 



By Edwin D. Hull. 



A PLAXT of the twayblade {Li par is locselii) grown in- 

 doors and in bloom April 22, 1914:, produced an ab- 

 normal flower as shown in the accompanying figure. The 

 parts of the flower are as usual but the in- 

 terest lies in the fact that there is no twist 

 to the ovary and hence the flower is not 

 inverted as is the case with the vast majority 

 of orchids. This flower was the basal one. 

 Xone of the other four flowers on the plant 

 had opened by April 29 when it was put into 

 formalin. 



The inversion of the orchid flower is 

 supposed, by some at least, to be for the 

 convenience of insects as the lip in this position affords an 

 excellent alighting place. If this is true, then the lack of in- 

 version might be said to be due to the fact that since this species 

 is self-pollinated and hence has no need for insect visitors, the 

 flowers are commencing to have a tendency to remain unin- 

 verted. The lack of inversion did not prevent pollination and the 

 ovary was rapidly maturing when preserved. Such reasoning, 

 however, sounds like teleology which at present is in disrepute. 



The lack of inversion was no doubt due to hard condi- 

 tions as the plant was not protected by glass from the gaseous, 

 steam-heated air hence there was not suflicient vigor imparted 

 to the flower to enable it to twist. The remaining flowers did 



