eiotaxy of the parts of the flower in general.=--In the preceding
sections suppression has been considered as it affected individual
members of a whorl or separate whorls. It rarely happens, however, that
the suppression is limited in this way. More generally several of the
parts of the flower are simultaneously affected in the same manner.

A few illustrations are all that is necessary to give as to this point.

One of the most familiar instances is that of the cauliflower or
broccoli, where the common flower-stalk is inordinately thickened and
fleshy, while the corolla and inner parts of the flower are usually
entirely suppressed; the four sepals can, however, generally be
detected.

Maximowicz describes a _Stellaria_ (_Kraschenikovia_) in which the upper
flowers are male only, while the lower ones, which ultimately become
buried in the soil, have neither petals, stamens, nor styles, but the
walls of the capsule are fleshy, and enclose numerous seeds.[486]

Kirschleger[487] mentions a variety of _Lonicera Caprifolium_, which was
not only destitute of petals but of stamens also.

In some species of _Muscari_ and _Bellevalia_ the uppermost flowers of
the raceme show more or less complete suppression of almost all the part
of which the flower normally consists. In those cases where an imperfect
perianth exists, but in which the stamens and pistils are entirely
suppressed, Morren applies the term Cenanthy, [Greek: kenos], empty.

=Complete suppression of the flower.=--It is not necessary in this place
to allude to that deficient production of flowers characteristic of what
is termed by gardeners a "sky bloomer." In such plants often the
requisite conditions are not complied with, and the skill of the
gardener is shown in his attempt to discover and allow the plant to
avail itself of the necessary requirements. We need here only allude to
those instances in which provision is made for the production of
flowers, and yet they are not produced. A good illustration of this is
afforded by the feather-hyacinth, _Hyacinthus comosus_, in which the
flowers are almost entirely suppressed, while the pedicels are
inordinately increased in number, and their colour heightened. Something
similar occurs in several allied species, and in _Bowiea volubilis_. The
wig plant (_Rhus Cotinus_) affords another illustration of the same
thing. Some tendrils also owe their appearance to the absence of
flowers, being modified peduncles; proofs o