SiGERSON — On Anomalous Form of Corolla, 
191 
Desckiption op Plate. 
Fig. 1 , . . a. — Colloid chlorate of quinia deposited from a solution at a tempera- 
ture of about 47° C. from a microphotograph taken by Mr. Wood- 
worth. 
/3. — Crystallized chlorate of quinia, in beaker. 
,,2, . . a. — Microscopic appearance of wavellite. 
)3. — Hemispherical radiated masses of wavellite. 
,,3, . .a and /3. — Eadiated form and appearance of ferric chloride. 
,,4, . . a. — Eadial form of natrolite. ^. — Ditto colloidal terpin. 
XXIX. — Anomalous Poem of Coeolla ii^ Eeica Teteallk. By Geoege 
SiGEESOif, M. D., Ch. M., P. L. S. (With Plate XYIL, Science.) 
[Read 12th June, 1871.] 
The plant which produced the peculiar corollas about to be described 
was found growing on the dry top of a bog bank, with some other 
heath-worts. My attention was at once attracted to it from the apparent 
presence of polypetalous corollas, through the separations of which the 
darker anthers were visible. (Pig. 1, PI. XYII.). 
On examining the recent specimens more closely and microsco- 
pically, it was clear that the first appearance was somewhat deceptive. 
There was no regular polypetalous arrangement, but the actual modifi- 
cation of the flower was very curious. 
JN'ormally, the corolla of Erica tetralix is undivided, or mono- 
petalous. The corollas of the plant in question were divided once, 
or, in some flowers, oftener. Thus, the examination of one flower 
showed the corolla divided halfway down to the base ; in another it was 
split to the base. These were instances of least division. In several 
flowers I found two slits in the corolla, separating it into two pieces. 
These pieces were often of different sizes. In several flowers, also, 
three slits existed in each corolla, by which consequently it was divided 
into three pieces, more or less regularly. (Fig. 1, ^, c, d, e). 
JS'ormally, the stamens are free from the corolla in the Heath Order. 
But in this plant there was, in several flowers, a very marked diver- 
gence from that rule. Thus, in several instances, part of the divided 
corolla itself bore an anther or anthers (occasionally imperfect), pre- 
senting an appearance somewhat similar to what is seen in the inner 
metamorphic petals of a double poppy. In other cases, a stamen 
arose from a divided piece of the corolla ; and in a few cases a barren 
filament alone made its appearance. Here, then, these stamens, instead 
of being free, as usual in the order Ericaceae, were epipetalous. Some 
free stamens (in numerical complement) were also present ; in one 
flower {a) a double stamen counts as two. 
The divergences exhibited by this plant in the arrangement of its 
corollas and stamens are not lawless and unaccountable freaks, but may 
