1895.] Dr. D. Prain —A Case of Pleiotaxy of the Gynsecium. 197 
by Mr. Duthie ( Gard . Chron. i, 1882, p. 601, f. 95) from examples in 
the pods of Indian Mustard and by Dr. Masters ( Veg . Teratol. p. 183, 
f. 96, 97) from examples in Grapes. Dr. King tells me that lie has 
observed something approaching the same peculiarity in the Papaya 
itself; one or more of the seeds have been replaced by miniature 
Papayas projecting into the ovarian cavity. 
Here, however, we have to deal with a different phenomenon. In¬ 
side the perfectly normal-looking fruit we find a second, about half its 
length, quite unconnected with the carpels of the ordinary pistil and 
arising from the axis of the flower within the normal ovary and there¬ 
fore above the point of attachment of its parts. The edges of the 
carpellary leaves of this second ovary are more or less free except at 
the base; through the interstices we can see a third ovary propor¬ 
tionately smaller but rather more approaching the normal ovary in 
appearance and structure owing to its component carpels being united 
except at their tips. (PI. IV, fig. A.) This third ovary we find to be 
from the second as the second is from the first; it occupies apparently 
as free the very extremity of the axis of the flower. (PI. V, fig. B). 
The degree of solution of carpels in the more external of these 
accessory fruits is rather irregular. Two carpels are united through¬ 
out ; two others are discrete only in their upper fourth. These two pairs 
are inter se discrete to within half-an-inch from their base; the solitary 
carpel on the other hand, is united throughout its lower third to each 
of its neighbours. The carpels of this whorl are alternate with those 
of the normal ovary; those of the inmost whorl are in turn alternate 
with the ones of the whorl just outside and are therefore opposite the 
normal carpels. (PI. V, fig. C.) The multiplication of carpels here met 
with is obviously not due to substitution of carpels for organs of some 
other kind and is not easily explicable on the theory that there has 
been a chorisis of the normal carpels. 
The stigmas of these extra carpels appear to be perfectly normal, 
but being confined within a closed cavity pollination has been impossible 
and the perfectly normal ovules that cover the placentas have remained 
undeveloped. Owing to the pressure exerted by the accessory carpels 
seeds are absent, excepting on the spaces opposite the gaps between 
these adventitious organs, from the lower two-thirds of the normal 
fruit. In the upper third where there has been no pressure perfect 
seeds are present as usual. 
The discrete character of the outer accessory carpels will recall to 
mind the appearance presented by the “ finger orange,” in which there 
is, besides the separation of the ordinary ones, not infrequently an 
augmentation in number of carpels. This at times is due apparently 
