vitalba, L.,witk Special Ref erence to Tr inter y and Abortion, 109 
Not only does the variation 'curve ’ show the same. periodicity with modes 
corresponding to multiples of three, but the decreasing prominence of these 
as we pass away from the primary mode is clearly exhibited (cf. Fig. 4). 
The range is from 27 to 87, so that both in the gynaeceum and androecium 
the numbers compared with Ficaria verna (androeqium 15-63 and 
gynaeceum 8-55) are high. It may therefore be of significance that the 
‘ curves ’ in that species are very asymmetrical, whilst here they are very 
much less so. Comparison within the same genus is, however, of greater 
value, and in the two species of Anemone (A. nemorosa and A. apenmnci) where 
Fig. 3. 
,Fig. 4. 
the average carpel number is so different the ‘curves’ show a marked 
contrast in respect to the degree of asymetry. 
' One instance of a carpel bearing two stigmas was observed, again 
suggesting fission as the cause of departure from the trimerous condition. 
The large number of perianth segments in this species renders it 
particularly suited to a study of their origin. Five flowers exhibited 
petaloid stamens in which the anthers were represented to a more or less 
marked extent. Just as we cannot distinguish the stamens which have 
undergone complete fission, so too here we cannot recognize the completely 
petaloid stamens, since the latter do not in this genus bear any nectary. 
There is no doubt that both methods of origin contribute to produce 
