ten the stamens) are entirely suppressed. With this
suppression an increase in the size of the flower very generally
coincides. The number of parts is also frequently increased; thus, in
_Antirrhinum majus_ the corolla, when subjected to peloria, is very
generally six-parted, and has six stamens. Fusion of one or more flowers
is also a common accompaniment of peloria, as in _Digitalis purpurea_,
in which plant prolification often adds increased complexity to the
flower.

It has been stated by Moquin and others that the uppermost flower of an
inflorescence is the most subject to peloria; the uppermost flower of
_Teucrium campanulatum_, for instance, is very generally regular. In
_Calceolaria_ it is the central terminal flower which is usually
peloriated; on the other hand, in _Linaria_ and _Antirrhinum_ the lower
flowers, or those on the secondary branches, are quite as often affected
as the primary ones. Cassini considered that the spur of _Linaria_ was
developed from the lower petal rather than from the upper ones, because
there is more room on the side of the flower farthest from the stem than
on the opposite side. With reference to this point, M. Godron remarks
that in habitually irregular flowers the apex of the peduncle is
oblique, and hence the flowers are bent downwards or spread
horizontally, but if the receptacle be quite flat and level then the
flower is regular. The oblique position causes some of the organs to
press on others, and hence induces abortion and suppression of some
parts and increased growth in others that are not subjected to pressure.
In a terminal peloriated flower of aconite, described by this
naturalist, the flower was removed so far from the nearest bracts that
all its parts had the chance of growing regularly. In ordinary cases M.
Godron considers that the compression of the lateral bracts is the cause
of the irregularity of the androecium and of the receptacle.[237]

It has also been somewhat too generally stated that peloria occurs
principally on luxuriant vigorous plants. It seems quite as often to
happen in plants characterised by their deficiencies in this respect. On
this point M. de Melicoq[238] says, referring to _Linaria vulgaris_
affected with peloria, that on the weakest plants the peloriated flower
was at the top of the stem; while in stronger plants, with more numerous
flowers and larger foliage, the peloriated flowers were principally to
be found in the centre and at the bas