Chap. V. HETEROSTYLED TRIMORPHIC PLANTS. 203 



Class VII. Illegitimate Plants raised from Mid-styled 

 Parents fertilised with pollen from the longest sta- 

 mens of the short-styled form. 



It was shown in the last chapter that the union from 

 which these illegitimate plants were raised is far more 

 fertile than any other illegitimate union; for the mid- 

 styled parent, when thus fertilised, yielded an average 

 (all very poor capsules being excluded) of 102.8 seeds, 

 with a maximum of 130; and the seedlings in the 

 present class likewise have their fertility not at all 

 lessened. Forty plants were raised; and these attained 

 their full height and were covered with seed-capsules. 

 Nor did I observe any contabescent anthers. It de- 

 serves, also, particular notice that these plants, differ- 

 ently from what occurred in any of the previous classes, 

 consisted of all three forms, namely, eighteen short- 

 styled, fourteen long-styled, and eight mid-styled 

 plants. As these plants were so fertile, I counted the 

 seeds only in the two following cases. 



Plant 82. This mid-styled plant was freely and legiti- 

 mately fertilised, during the unfavourable year of 1864, 

 by numerous surrounding legitimate and illegitimate 

 plants. Eight capsules yielded an average of 127.2 seeds, 

 with a maximum of 144 and a minimum of 96; so that 

 this plant attained 98 per cent, of the normal standard. 



Plant 83. This short-styled plant was fertilised in the 

 same manner and at the same time with the last; and ten 

 capsules yielded an average of 113.9, with a maximum of 

 137 and a minimum of 90. Hence this plant produced no 

 less than 137 per cent, of seeds in comparison with the 

 normal standard. 



Concluding Remarks on the Illegitimate Offspring of 



the three forms of Lythrum salicaria. 



From the three forms occurring in approximately 

 equal numbers in a state of nature, and from the re- 



