Fig. 136.—Leaf-like anther of Jatropha Pohliana, after Müller.
Phyllody of the stamens has been most often observed in the following plants:
- Anemone nemorosa.
- coronaria.
- Delphinium crassicaule.
- Nymphæa dentata.
- Tropæolum majus!
- Dictamnus albus.
- *Trifolium repens!
- Torilis anthriscus.
- Heracleum Sphondylium.
- Daucus Carota
- Epilobium hirsutum!
- *Rosa, var. cult.!
- Lonicera Periclymenum.
- Anagallis arvensis.
- Primula sinensis!
- Petunia, var. cult.
- Jatropha Pohliana.
- Euphorbia goniculata.
In addition to the foregoing there are very numerous instances of similar substitution in chloranthic flowers. In the above list only those cases are given wherein the leafy change is confined to the stamens, or, at least, to a few only of the other parts of the flower.
Phyllody of the pistils.[262]—This is of more common occurrence than is the corresponding change in the case of the stamens. It is of interest, as it sometimes serves to illustrate the morphological nature of the pistil. Of this the double-flowering cherry is a well-known illustration, the pistil being here represented by two small foliar laminæ, whose midribs are prolonged with a short style, terminated by an imperfect stigma. It is usually the basal portion of the pistil, the ovary, which is thus specially affected, the margins being also often disunited so as to expose the ovules. These latter organs may be absent or they may themselves be the subjects of foliaceous development. Moquin[263] relates having found in the neighbourhood of Montpellier a flower of a tulip the ovary of which was represented by true leaves, which bore on their margins the ovules, and thus presented a striking analogy with the carpels of those Sterculias, like S. platanifolia, which are foliaceous in texture and open very early in the course of their development. A similar occurrence has also been frequently noticed in the Columbine and also in Cruciferæ and Umbelliferæ. M. Germain de St. Pierre mentions an instance wherein the carpels of Salix Babylonica were converted into two leaves, provided with stipules. All the flowers of the catkins were similarly changed, so that it became permanent, and resembled a branch.
Fig. 137.—Rose, in which the axial portion of the flower was elongated and the carpels were more or less replaced by leaves.
Substitutions of this kind form the green "eyes" or centres of certain varieties of Ranunculus and Anemone.