Fig. 47.—Plan of flower of Lycaste Skinneri showing displacement of organs.
In a specimen of Lycaste Skinneri similar changes were observed, as shown in the plan, fig. 47. Here the posterior sepal was deficient, the two lateral ones were present, one of them with a long tubular spur, o o; of the two lateral petals, i i, one was twisted out of place, so as partially to occupy the place of the deficient sepal; the lip was represented by two three-lobed segments, l, one above and within the other. The column and ovary of this flower were in their normal condition.
Cohesion of two or more segments of the perianth is frequently associated with displacements of this nature: thus, in a flower of Dendrobium nobile, a diagram of which is given at fig. 48, the uppermost sepal was coherent with one of the lateral ones, and at the same time diminished in size, and, as it were, dragged out of position. All the other organs of the flower are also more or less displaced, forming a minor degree of the change already alluded to, and which Morren termed speiranthy. The changes will be better appreciated by comparing them with fig. 49, a diagram showing the natural arrangement of parts in this species.
Fig. 48.—Plan of malformed flower of Dendrobium nobile.
