Page:The Journal of Indian Botany, Volume III.djvu/15

NOTES ON INDIAN PLANT TERATOLOGY

5 in order to effect the position indicated. The scape is scaleless, and bears only the peloric flower, but opposite the normal bract there is a short undeveloped branchlet.

As may be seen from the figure, the three sepals are undistinguish- able from one another, except for irregularities in the nervation, which shows various transition forms between the 5-and 7-nerved types (the latter being the normal one in the species). The three petals are also alike, 3-nerved, ovate-lanceolate, acute. There are thus no traces of the filiform segments of the normal petals, or of the lobes of the nor- mal lip, and its long spur.

The outer whorl of stamens is fully represented by three complete anthers, each with its two pollinia. The inner whorl is represented by three fleshy, granular staminodes (visible at the base of the petals in the figure). All these structures are morphologically normal.

The stfigma is a triangular structure with a depression in the centre. Each vertex of the triangle forms a rostellum, normal in shape. Along each side, 'on a protuberance, are two pockets, in each of which a gland of a pollinium is resting.

The clavate “Astigmatic ” processes, conspicuous in the normal flower (see either of the columns in Eig. 2), are here totally absent. From their normal position it seems to me probable, that they have to be regarded as the two reduced sfcamens of the outer whorl. But they may of course acquire a stigmatic surface through fusion with parts of the stigma. In our peloric flower the stigmatic surface is presumably situated in the central depression. The ovary is normal, except in showing no trace of bending or twisting.

As far as I am aware, only a single equally perfectly peloric Orchid flower has ever been described. [See : Schlechter & Eiseher — “Pelo- rische Blutenbildiug bei Odo?itoglossum grande Lindl.” Orchis (Beil, 2 . GartenflL), Jahrg. Y (1911), pp. 119—122. Also : Worsdell, W. C. — " The Principles of Plant-Teratology,” vol. II, pp. 82, 94 ; PI. XXXVII, Kgs. 5, 6.]

( 2 ) On two cases of syncmthy in Habenaria grandiflora Lindl.

A. In one of the specimens in question, the scape bears only the dual structure shown in Eig. 2. It is subtended by a bract with two strong midribs, symmetrically placed, and rather far apart. There are two fainter lateral nerves, one on each side. The tip of the double bract is missing. Opposite to the bract, there is a short undeveloped branchlet.