ABNORMAL "FLOWERS" OF HELENIUM AUTUMN ALE, L. 955 



Finally, we learn that the capitulum itself is a contracted or suppressed 

 axis or shoot, bearing great numbers of laterally placed sessile flowers ; in 

 other words, a " spike." In the abnormal proliferated condition it ceases 

 to be a spike, and becomes a complex racemose inflorescence, owing to the 

 fact that the individual flowers composing it (each in itself an axis bearing 

 lateral foliar organs) proliferate and repeat the structure of the mother 

 spike. 



Obscuration of the true morphological nature of some of the organs of 

 the flower-has been carried very far in the case of the Composites, owing to 

 the exceptional methods of adaptation to the processes of fertilisation and 

 seed-dispersal obtaining in this group. We should, therefore, hail with 

 satisfaction the appearance of these so-called "sports " and "freaks " as 

 the documents containing the exact and irrefragable record of the true 

 meaning and morphological nature of the otherwise so often obscure and 

 modified normal structure. Studied and regarded in the proper light, 

 they should be (as, amongst the majority of botanists, they are far from 

 being at the present day) of great service in the solution of many morpho- 

 logical problems. 



In conclusion, I wish particularly to thank both Mr. F. Crisp for the 

 care and trouble he took in obtaining the flowers for me, and Mr. L. A. 

 Boodle, of the Jodrell Laboratory, Kew Gardens, for the photographs 

 accompanying this article, and also the editor of " The Garden " for lending 

 me figure 209. 



LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED. 



Cap. 1 = primary capitulum ; cap. 2 = secondary capitulum ; ray co. = corolla of 

 ray-floret ; disc co. = corolla of disc-floret ; sep. = sepal ; pet. = petal ; st. = stamen ; 

 cp. = carpel ; sg. = stigma ; ov. = ovary ; ax. = proliferating axis of floret ; br. = 

 bracteole ; rec. = receptacle ; P. = Phytoptus. 



