CHANGES IN OVARY. 59 
95. The central organ of the flower, the ovary, also 
partakes of the nature of the leaf, only the blade is 
folded and united by its edges, so as to form a hollow 
case, in which the ovules are formed. ‘The midrib of 
the leaf forming the back of the ovary, and the united 
edges of the blade being turned towards the centre of 
the flower, and having the ovules fixed there. The 
style is the end of the leaf lengthened out, the very 
point, or apex of which, forms the stigma. 
96. One proof of the statement, that the ovary is to 
be considered as a modification of the leaf, lies in the 
fact, that in the double blossom Cherry, the ovary 
actually takes the form of a leaf with the margins cut 
just in the same way as those of the true leaves of the 
plant (pl. 19. f. 11.); only it never assumes the 
expanded form, but remains slightly folded together 
(ov.); the end of the leaf tapers also into a style, and 
is furnished with a brownish stigma. Of course neither 
seeds nor ovules are formed within it. 
97. Another singular proof of the change of ovary 
to the leafy condition, is seen in the flower of what is 
termed the proliferous Rose, as represented at f. 18. 
and 14, in which the sepals (s.) become changed into 
real leaves; and the petals are greatly increased in 
number at the expense of the stamens (s¢.); while the 
ovaries (ov.) which are seen in their natural form and 
place in pl. 15. f. 1. are changed into leafy organs on 
the stem which has passed through the flower, and at 
the end of which, an imperfect flower (f-) is found 
growing; this is seen cut open at f. 14, in which the 
sepals and petals have been removed to show the stem 
