re
congenital, and due to an arrest of development.[221] As the true nature
of these cases has not been in all cases recognised (even Moquin places
them under the head of deformities--they being less entitled to rank in
that class than are the usual flowers), it may be well to cite a few
instances taken from various families. In _Delphinium peregrinum_ I have
met with perfectly regular flowers having five sepals and five oblong
stalked petals, and a similar occurrence has been noted in other
species of this genus. Baillon,[222] in referring to these flowers,
points out the resemblance that they bear to the double varieties of
_Nigella_. In the stellate columbines (_Aquilegia_) of gardens the
tubular petals are replaced by flat ones often in increased numbers. In
violets both forms of peloria occur, that in which there is an unusual
number of spurs, and that in which there are no spurs (var. anectaria).
In the more perfect forms of regular peloria occurring in the last-named
genus the following changes may be noticed: 1, an alteration in the
direction of the flower so that it remains in an erect position, and is
not bent downwards as usual; 2, equality of proportion in the sepals and
petals; 3, absence of spurs, as also of hairs on the lateral petals; 4,
equal stamens whose anthers are sometimes entirely destitute of the
prolonged crest which forms so prominent a feature under ordinary
circumstances; 5, erect, not curved styles, and the stigmas not
prolonged into a beak, but having a more or less capitate form; ovary
with three or five cells, ovules normal.

These are cases where the change in question is most strongly marked,
the bi-lateral is completely replaced by the radiating symmetry. The
absence of the usual nectary, and of hairs on the side petals, the
alterations in the form of the style, etc., all show how much the
process of fertilisation must be altered from that which occurs under
ordinary circumstances. In some of the double violets now cultivated in
gardens, a similar regularity of proportion in the parts of the flower
may be seen combined with the substitution of petals for stamens and
pistils, and with the development of an increased number of petal-like
organs.[223] Between these cases and the ordinary spurred forms as well
as those with an increased number of spurs, many intermediate forms may
be met with. That such regularity should occur in this family is not to
be wondered at seeing that there is a