On an Abnormal Gynoeceum in Stachys sylvatica. 141 
between the stamens and pistil, bearing at its apex a very small 
flower-bud with a rudimentary carpellary leaf on either side of it. 
The third flower had at the end of a short stalk a group of five 
similar small rudimentary flower buds, each partly inclosed by a 
pair of small unequal carpellary leaves ; the largest of these buds 
measured barely 2 mm. in length. 
B C 
D F 
Fig. 17. Abnormal gnyoecia of Stachys sylvatica. A, Inflorescence I., 
reduced gynoeceum from a flower of the uppermost verticillaster. Inflore¬ 
scence II. B, from two lowest verticillasters; C, D, from third and fourth 
verticillasters, E, from sixth verticillaster; F, normal gynoeceum of Stachys 
sylvatica. See Text. 
This peculiar abnormality, which was mostly clearly shown in 
the uppermost false whorl of I, where the axis of the flower 
produces one or more flower-buds in the centre of the flower is 
termed by Masters 1 median floral prolijication. He refers to 
another very similar example, 2 amongst others, which was found in 
1 M. T. Masters, “ Vegetable Teratology,” p. 119. 
2 Loc. cit., p. 125. 
