58 CHANGES IN PETALS. 
this flower a gradual passage from the condition of 
sepals to that of petals, and from petals to that of 
stamens; which are also to be considered as modifi- 
cations of the leaf. 
98. We have seen that the leaf proper is sometimes 
composed of a petiole or leaf-stalk, and the blade; but 
that the petiole is absent ina great many instances. 
The petal is occasionally seen to possess a similar form, 
as in the Wallflower (f. 9.), and Pink (f. 10.), in which 
there is a claw (c¢.), or narrowing of the petal at its 
base, which corresponds to the petiole in the leaf, while 
the broad part (J.), answers to the lamina or blade. 
We find also that the edge of this blade is notched 
(f. 10.) asin some leaves. In the stamen (f. 8.), the 
filament (f.), answers to the petiole of the leaf, and 
the anther (a.), is the blade transformed into a hollow 
case, as if the edges of the leaf had never unrolled or 
expanded into a lamina; and just as the petiole is 
absent in some leaves, so some stamens are found 
without filaments. 
94. In the foregoing example the petal has been 
traced to the condition of stamen; but occasionally 
the stamen in the Cabbage Rose may be traced, 
degenerating as it were, or falling in the state of petal: 
f, 12. represents the steps of this change; sometimes a 
stamen may be found having its anther (a.) enlarged 
and rose coloured on one side; or, lengthened (b.) more 
than usual; sometimes one side of the anther (¢. d.) 
assumes the form of a petal, while the other resembles 
part of an anther; or, as ate. it nearly takes the form 
of a petal; or that of petal and sepal combined, as at_/. 
