260 Structure of Flowers of Adoxa moschatellina. 
1. The calyx. This whorl varies both in the terminal and lateral' 
flowers, with 2, 3, or 4 sepals. In the latter case 3 of the sepals 
were observed to alternate with 4 petals, and the fourth sepal to be 
opposite a fifth petal. 
De Candolle does not consider this whorl as a true calyx, but calls 
the corolla a calyx. This reduces the sepals to bracteae, and as 
these are combined, the whorl must be considered as an involucrum. 
In this case we have the tube of the involucrum combining with the 
lower half of the ovarium, and also uniting with the calyx and sta- 
mens. There seems to be no sufficient reason for admitting such 
an anomaly, and the view usually taken appears to be preferable. 
2. The Corolla. This is always composed of either 4 or 5 petals, 
which cohere by their bases and to the upper edge of the calyx, 
where it becomes free from the ovarium. Some of the petals are 
sometimes opposite and sometimes alternate with the sepals, which 
they exceed in number by 1, 2, or 3 parts. 
3. The Stamens. These are placed very evidently in pairs, a sin- 
gle stamen of each pair standing on either side of the sinus formed 
by the union of two contiguous petals. Fig. 2. 
De Candolle asserts that half are oppo- 
site, and half alternate, with the petals. 
This view must be ascribed to a desire 
to obviate the apparent anomaly of their 
being neither opposite nor strictly alter- 
nate with the petals, but it is decidedly 
inadmissible. Tie has not observed that 
the anthers consist of a single lobe, nor can I discover that this fact 
has been previously noticed by any author except Dr Hooker, who 
in his Flora Scotica has the following remark : " Stamens united in 
pairs, or they may be considered as 4 or 5 forked stamens, each 
ramification terminated by a single cell of an anther, and all spring- 
ing from a fleshy ring that surrounds the germen." 
I was ignorant of this observation, but was led to make the same 
remark last spring, by reflecting in Fig. 3. 
what way it would be possible to re- 
duce the anomalous structure of this 
flower to some normal condition, in 
which the parts of the several whorls 
would be arranged agreeably to the 
generally established rules of morphology. De Candolle's view ap- 
peared to be quite untenable. Upon examining a great number of 
specimens, I observed in many instances a very decided tendency 
