DICOTYLEDONS, 
A comparison with nearly-allied forms leaves little room for doubt that the vacant 
spaces indicated by dots in the three outer whorls correspond to abortive members 
in the sense already frequently indicated, even when the absence of these members 
is so complete that the earliest stages of development of the flower give no indi- 
FIG. 443.— Diagram of Valerianacea; ; A Valeriana, FiG. 444.— Diagram of Cu- FiG. 445.— Diagram of Com- 
B Ceuij-anthus. curbitaceae. posita;. 
Fig. 446,— Diagram of some Rubiac ae. FiG. 447.— Diagram of Plantaginere. FIG. 448.— Diagram of Oleaceoe. 
Fig. 451. — Diagram oi Aqicilegia (Ranunculaceas). 
cation of them. The same is the case also when the number of carpels is less than 
the typical one. Other cases however occur, as in ^the case of Rhus (Fig. 452), 
where certain members, in this case two out of the three carpels, disappear in the 
course of development. Crozophora tindoria (Fig. 453) is especially instructive in 
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