On a Chemical Peculiarity of the Dimorphic Anthers 
of Lagerstroemia indica, with a Suggestion as to 
its Ecological Significance. 
BY 
J. ARTHUR HARRIS. 
With two Figures in the Text. 
I. Introductory Remarks. 
lOUT ten years ago I observed certain peculiarities in the dimorphic 
■L\- anthers of the frequently cultivated ornamental shrub, Lagerstroemia 
indica , which seemed worthy of detailed investigation, but the results of 
studies made in 1903, 1904, and 1905 at the Missouri Botanical Garden 
have lain among my notes since that time because I have hoped to be able 
to verify the essential points and to fill in the lacunae. At present I see 
no prospect of doing anything further with the problem. Nor do I know 
personally any one who might take my data and complete the work. It 
seems only right, therefore, to publish the results attained for the benefit of 
any one who may have the inclination and the opportunity to do the work 
more thoroughly. 
II. Floral Structure and Anthesis. 
Briefly described, the structure of the flower is as follows : The petals 
are unguiculate, with an oval to orbicular crispate limb. The numerous 
stamens have filiform filaments and elliptical anthers with pulviniform 
connectives. The greater number of the stamens are bright yellow in 
colour, but one in front of each sepal is usually larger, both as to fila- 
ment and anther, and of a reddish instead of a yellow colour. In young 
buds the anthers are not distinguishable by their colour, both kinds being 
a light yellow. The characteristic colours are developed as the buds grow 
older. A detailed study of the numerical relationships of the parts of the 
flower has been given elsewhere. 1 
The flowers open as a rule about half-past eight o’clock in the morning, 
although there is great variation in this regard, occasional flowers opening 
as late as five or six in the evening. 
1 Harris, J. Arthur : Variation and Correlation in the Flowers of Lagerstroemia indica. 
Ann. Report Mo. Bot. Gard., vol. xx, 1909, pp. 97-104. 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. XXVIII. No. CXI. July, 1914.] 
