SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
235 
to its centre. The first traces of leaves appear in the form of obliqne pro- 
minences, directly continuous with the epithelium of the receptacle. The 
future point of the flower, however, does not correspond to the point of this 
prominence. These rudunentary parts afterwards become completely hemi- 
spherical ; the developmental point of the bud remains behind in its growth, 
whilst around the apex there is formed a circular elevation which soon forms 
a sort of crater. On the outside, a little above the annular rampart, there 
appear sometimes certain cushion-like elevations, which are probably the 
rudiments of the subsequently-obliterated calyx. There is at this period no 
trace of the pappus. Next the five petals originate on the margins of the 
crater wall ; their increase takes place at the base, and they curve inwards 
successively in a peculiarly bent manner. The anthers follow then, alternating 
with them, and are developed on the inner slope of the crater. The petals become 
soldered together, from the base up to the place where the lobes afterwards 
make their appearance. The pappus projects from the outer wall of the 
crater margin, but not until the anthers have advanced considerably in their 
development ; from its origin and nature it must be regarded as an accessory 
organ. The ovary, which is decidedly mferior, is produced by the growth of 
a sort of disk of vegetable tissue. The ovule is lateral ; the succession of 
the development of the leaf-cycle (?) is altogether abnormal.^ — Vide Bihliotheque 
Universelle, October. 
Bhaphides as Diagnostic Characters of Plants. — Professor Guilin still 
pursues his inquiries upon this subject, and describes the crystals which he 
has found in the species of various orders. His description of the crystals 
which occur in the wood or bark of Quillaja is of interest. In a sample 
which the Professor obtained from Messrs. Butler & McCuUoch he found 
crystals lying in great numbers along the liber and mesophlaeum. They are 
generally about the -j-i-o- of an inch long, and the of an inch thick, four- 
sided rectangular prisms, whose faces are equal to each other, and whose ends 
are topped with small pyramids ; but they vary in form. Their ends may be 
like the edge of a chisel or wedge, and occasionally as if the shaft of the 
crystal has been cut through obliquely from one angle or face to the opposite 
one ; besides, the prisms may be triangular. Though they are so very 
plentiful, they occur, for the most part, singly, sometimes two or three 
partially fixed together, and never in bundles, in which character they further 
differ from true raphides, and closely resemble many of the crystal prisms of 
Iridaceae and certain other Monocotyledons. Quekett describes each 
separate prism of Quillaja as having a close investment or cell, but no loose 
one, of cellulose. — Vide Annals of Natural History, October. 
Abnormal Orchids. — Mr. Maxwel T. Masters, in a letter to the editor of 
The Journal of Botany, thus describes some very curious specimens of 
Orchids, lately forwarded to him by Dr. Moore. The flowers examined had 
three sepals as usual ; within these a double and in some instances a triple 
whorl of petals, most of the latter being lip-like in form and colour. No 
trace whatever could be found of ovary or column, pollen or nectary, but, 
standing up in the centre of the flower, in the place usually occupied, was a 
small raceme consisting of numerous bracts subtending a number of flower- 
buds. These latter were made up (so far as their structure and arrangement 
could be observed) of three sepals enclosing some rudimentary petals, and 
