.EsrrvAxroN of ranunculus bulbosus and r. acer 
211 
results of an examination of the corolla-aestivation in three thousand 
flowers of R. bulbosus by Mr. T. A. Sprague and myself, and in one 
thousand flowers of R. acer, are given below. The number of dowers 
in each set examined is given in the second column. The figures in 
the last four columns are percentages. The letters Q, A, P, C 
indicate the quincuncial, apotactous, paratactous, and convolute phases 
respectively. Flowers were examined in the following localities: 
Kew (Surrey), Odiham and Western Corbett (Hants), and Pembury 
(Kent). 
Corolla q/Tdanunculus bulbosus: percentages of phases of cesti ration. 
Locality. 
Number 
of flowers. 
Q. 
A. 
P. 
0. 
Kew . 
370 
3P6 
31*9 
28*7 
7*8 
do. 
190 
31 *6 
32T 
30*0 
6 3 
do. 
200 
330 
26*5 
33*0 
7*o 
() diham . 
440 
364 
25*2 
32*0 
6*4 
Weston Corbett 
400 
370 
23*25 
34*5 
5*25 
do. 
400 
35*75 
30*5 
27*5 
6*25 
Pemburv . 
200 
32 5 
31*0 
32*5 
40 
do. . 
300 
30*7 
30*3 
32*3 
6*7 
do. . 
100 
32*0 
23*0 
39*0 
6*0 
do. . 
200 
27 *5 
32*0 
34*0 
6*5 
do. . 
200 
310 
33 5 
290 
6*5 
Total: Surrey . 
760 
32 0 
30*5 
30*1 
7*4 
Total: Hants. . 
1240 
36*4 
26*3 
31*4 
6*0 
Total: Kent... 
1000 
30-6 
30 7 
32*7 
6*0 
Grand Total 
3000 
33*3 
28*8 
31*5 
6*3 
Corolla of X &an 
unculus acer: percentages of phases of (estivation. 
Odiham. 
700 
32*4 
26*9 
33*4 
7*3 
Kew . 
300 
37*0 
290 
29*0 
5 0 
Total ... 
1000 
33*8 
27*5 
32 T 
6*6 
The aestivation of the calvx in Ranunculus bulbosus and acer is 
normally quincuncial. Out of 250 dowers of the former, 249 had 
the calyx quincuncial and 1 apotactous. No connection could he 
traced between the direction of overlap of the sepals and that of the 
petals, homodromous and antidromous arrangements being about 
equally frequent. 
As regards the corolla, there were usually two or three phases of 
aestivation on the same plant, less frequently all four phases or only one. 
Examination of the tables shows that the percentages of the 
quincuncial, apotactous, and paratactous phases are approximately 
equal, and that the convolute phase is about one-fifth as frequent. 
1 have discussed the results with Mr. Sprague, who points out that 
the percentages of the four phases are such as might be expected were 
the direction of overlap of the petals purely fortuitous. On this 
Q 2 
