fruited ; hence an interest is produced by its fruit as 
well as its flowers. It will be observed that its 
flowers do not assume that spherical form produced 
by the common Guelder-rose, or Snow-ball Tree, 
in consequence of its central flowers being fertile; 
whereas, in the trees usually met with in shrubberies 
the whole of the flowers are sterile, the principal 
parts of fructification therein being obliterated. 
The peculiarity assumed by the flowers of this 
plant, and Hydrangea, in which the same occurs, 
is totally different from that metamorphosis, which 
so frequently is found in double flowers. In the 
latter, there is a partial or total change of the sta- 
mens into petals; which, on examination, will often 
be found in an imperfect state of transformation — 
half stamen and half petal, and sometimes perfect 
stamen with petal attached ; or perfect petal with 
a stamen on its edge — a mark of its origin. This 
change cannot be better exhibited than in semi- 
double Roses. One now before us, the brilliant- 
coloured “ Gloire de Rosomenes,” displays it admi- 
rably. Its stamens and petals exist in all degrees of 
transformation, and some of its anthers are perfect, 
bearing pollen, and with petals growing from their 
sides ; in other instances, one cell is obliterated by 
expansion of its tissue into a petal, whilst the oppo- 
site cell continues perfect and bearing pollen. In- 
stances of the tranformation of one organ into 
another more incomprehensible by far than this, 
are frequent in vegetation. In the flower published, 
both stamen and pistil of the blossoms in the outer 
circle, are obliterated, whilst the corrolla is corres- 
pondingly enlarged. 
