L. S. Gibbs. 
243 
NOTE ON FLORAL ANOMALIES IN SPECIES 
OF CERASTIUM. 
[With Figs. 81-84.] 
1.—Secondary Whorl of Carpels in Cerastium 
quaternellum Fenzl. 
URING some recent work on different species of the group of 
Alsineac in Caryophyllaceas, I have encountered some ano¬ 
malies which seemed sufficiently interesting to justify special 
notice. In Cerastium quaternellum Fenzl (Moenchia erecta Sm.), a 
very ephemeral little species which is common in spring on dry 
sandy banks throughout the country, the above departure from the 
normal type was twice observed. 
The flowers in this species are tetramerous, sepals in two 
whorls, petals, stamens and carpels being in regular alternation. 
The ovary consists of four loculi, with two rows of campylotropous 
ovules in each. The placental column reaches to about two-thirds the 
height of the ovary and on it the ovules are inserted in eight rows, 
about seven in each, in basipetal succession. The loculi are of the 
usual Alsinean type. The dissepiments fuse with the placental column, 
making the ovary septate for the length of the same. Above the 
column, owing to the widening of the ovary, they separate out, to 
fuse again as it narrows in the basal region of the styles. The 
tissue of these dissepiments soon breaks down, becoming loose and 
spongy and more or less lacunar. On the placental side it widens 
out, forming a sort of cushion, functioning as conducting tissue for 
the pollen tubes, and persists as the so-called “Leisten” mentioned 
by Eichler. 
The connection with the carpellary wall is gradually reduced to 
a few strands of parenchyma, which completely break down after 
fertilization, leaving a free central placenta. The styles shrivel up after 
the passage of the pollen tubes. The anomalous structure in the 
ovary in question is shown in longitudinal sections, slightly oblique 
Fig. 81 (s.w.c.) which is a camera lucida drawing of the most 
median section of a complete series through the entire ovary. 
The secondary whorl of carpels (Fig. 81, s.w.c.) is seen 
occupying the extreme apex of the placental column, its vascular 
strands being in continuity with those which supply the primary 
whorl. By a careful comparison of the whole series, the anomaly 
