FASCIATION AND ALLIED PHENOMENA. 



165 



the smooth leafe, which giueth shewe of a plume or fanne of feathers." 

 Three fragments of such Cabbage leaves are illustrated in fig. 109. 



Theoretical Okigin of Ovules. — The study of the crested Cabbage 

 shows strong analogies, if they be not in strict homology with the origin 



Fig. 109. — Portions of Cabbage leaves with foHaceous ribs, etc. 



of ovules. They both originate primarily through hypertrophy ; in the 

 Cabbage, of course, abnormally ; but it is normal in the enlarged margins 

 of carpels called placentas. 



A carpel, as of the Hellebore, is at first provided with a single cord from 

 the pedicel (fig. 110). This divides into three (fig. Ill); one forms the 

 dorsal cord, or midrib, the other two are placental cords, which do not occur 



Fig. 110. — Transverse section of pedicel Fig. ■'•11. — Transverse section of same 

 of carpel of Hellebore. at base of carpel. 



inordinary leaves (fig. 111). These are associated with an enlargement 

 of the margins by hypertrophy, in order to form the placentas which carry 

 the ovules (fig. 113). Both of these cords then send off a small branch 

 to each of the ovules. 



In abnormal states of ovules they are not infrequently represented by 

 leaves, cup-like structures or funnel-shaped outgrowths, apparently 

 homologous with the ovular coat (fig. 114). 



Fig. 112. — Transverse section of same, Fic. 11:5. — Transverse section of ov.ivy 



showing location of cords for midrib of same, 



and placentas. 



This is well seen in the monstrous Mignonette described by the late 

 Professor J. S. Henslow^ (fig. 114). On comparing the varieties of these 

 malformed ovules, they can pretty well be all paralleled by the little foliar 

 or funnel-shaped excrescences issuing from the ribs or veins of Cabbage 

 leaves (fig. 109). 



