Vegetable Teratology. Maxwell T. Masters
Malus.
Persica vulgaris.
Cratægus monogyna.
Robinia pseudacacia.
Gleditschia triacanthos.
Syringa persica.
Cornus sanguinea.
Viburnum sp.
*Lonicera sp. plur!
Centranthus ruber!
Valantia cruciata.
Centaurea moschata.Jacea.
Zinnia elegans.
Zinnia revoluta.
Helianthus sp.!
Spilanthes oleracea.
Dahlia.
*Leontodon Taraxacum!
Senecio Doria.
Cichorium Intybus.
Lactuca sativa.
Anthemis retusa.
*Campanula medium!persicifolia.
Azalea indica!
Vinca minor.
Atropa Belladonna.
*Solanum Lycopersicum!
*Petunia violacea!
Galeopsis ochroleuca.
Betonica alopecuros.
*Digitalis purpurea!
*Antirrhinum majus!
*Linaria purpurea!
*Pedicularis sylvatica!
*Calceolaria var. hort.!
Scrophularia nodosa.
Salpiglossis straminea.
Streptocarpus Rexii.
*Gesnera var. hort.!
Æschynanthus sp.!
Thyrsacanthus rutilans!
Anagallis collina.
*Primula veris!Auricula.
*Primula acaulis, var. umbellata!elatior?*sinensis!
Aristolochia Clematitis.
Blitum sp.
Chenopodium sp.
Rumex sp.
Salix cinerea.
*Hyacinthus orientalis!
Lilium bulbiferum!croceum, et sp. alix, pl.
Tulipa, sp.
Polygonatum anceps.
Fritillaria imperalis!
Agave americana.
Iris versicolor.sambucina.
Crocus, sp.
Colchicum autumnale.
Narcissus incomparabilis!Tazetta.biflorus.chrysanthus.
*Ophrys aranifera!
Calanthe vestita!
Oncidium bicolor.ornithorhyncum.&c. &c.
In addition to the works before cited, additional information on this subject may be gained from the following:—Jaeger, 'Missbilld.,' p. 92. v. Schlechtend, 'Bot. Zeit.,' 1856, Robinia. Weber, 'Verhandl. Nat. Hist. Vereins. Preuss. Rheinl.,' 1849, p. 290, Primula. Hincks, 'Rep. Brit. Assoc. Newcastle,' 1838, Salpiglossis. Clos, 'Mém. Acad. Toulouse,' vol. vi, 1862, Anagallis. Wigand, 'Flora,' 1856, tab. 8, Pedicularis. Henfrey, 'Botan. Gazette,' i, p. 280, Reseda. P. Reinsch, 'Flora,' 1860, tab. 7, Petasites. Weber, Verhandl. Nat. Hist. Vereins. f.d. Preuss. Rheinl. u. Westphal.,' 1860, p. 332, tabs. 6 et 7, Prunus, Persica, Campanula, Taraxacum, Saxifraga, Silene, Hyacinthus, &c. Miquel, 'Linnæa,' xi, p. 423, Colchicum. Michel, 'Traité du Citronnier,' tab. 6, Citrus.
Syncarpy.—In the preceding section it has been shown that the carpels, like other parts of the flower, are subject to be united together. This union may either take place between the carpels of a single flower or between the pistils of different flowers. In the latter case the other floral whorls are generally more or less altered. Where, however, the ovary is, as it is called, inferior, it may happen that the pistils of different flowers may coalesce more or less without much alteration in the other parts of the flower, as happens normally in many Caprifoliaceæ, Rubiaceæ, &c. &c. In some of these cases it must be remembered that the real structure of the apparent fruit is not made out beyond dispute, the main points of controversy being as to what, if any, share the dilated fruit-stalk or axis takes in the formation of such organs. Again, it will be borne in mind that in some cases the so-called fruit is made up of a number of flowers all fused together, as in the Mulberry or the Pineapple, in which plants what is, in ordinary language, called the fruit really consists of the whole mass of flowers constituting the inflorescence fused together. Union of the fruits may also in some cases take place between the carpels after the fall of the other floral whorls, particularly when the outer layers of the pericarp assume a succulent condition, so that under the general head of syncarpy really different conditions are almost necessarily grouped together, and, in seeking to investigate the causes of the phenomenon, the particular circumstances of each individual case must be taken into account. Syncarpy takes place in various degrees; sometimes only the stalks are joined; at other times the whole extent of the fruit, as in cherries, &c. This peculiarity did not escape the observant mind of Shakespeare—
"A double cherry seeming parted.
But yet a union in partition,
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem."
'Midsummer Night's Dream,' act iii, sc. 2.
A similar union has been observed in peaches, gooseberries, gourds, melons, and a great many other fruits. In the Barbarossa grape I have frequently seen a fusion of two, three, four or more berries quite at the end of the bunch, so that the clusters were terminated by a compound grape. Seringe has remarked sometimes two, sometimes three, fruits of Ranunculus tripartitus soldered together. He has also seen three melons similarly joined.[47] Turpin mentions having seen a complete union between the three smooth and leathery pericarps which are naturally separate and enclosed within the spiny cupule of the chestnut.[48] Poiteau and Turpin have figured and described in their treatise on fruit trees, under the name of Néfle de Correa, four or five medlars, joined together and surmounted by all the persistent leaflets of the calyces.[49]
A very remarkable example of Syncarpy has been recorded by E. Kœnig in which nine strawberries were borne on one stem (Fragaria botryformis),[50] and a similar malformation has been observed in the Pineapple.
When two fruits are united together they may be of about equal size, while in other cases one of the two is much smaller than the other. This was the case in two cucumbers given to me by Mr. James Salter. These were united together along their whole length excepting at the very tips; the upper one of the two was much larger than the lower, and contained three cells, the lower fruit was one-celled by suppression. Both fruits were curved, the curvature being evidently due to the more rapid growth of the upper as compared with