VARIATION IX THE FLOWER OF JASMIN UM MALATUKICUM 



155 



Variation in the Flower of Jasminum malaharimm^ Wight, 



By Harold H, Mann, D.Sc, F.L.S. 



[Read 3rd April, 1919.] 



In the forests of the Western Ghats in tlie latitiule of Beltraum in the 

 Bomhav Presidency much of the jnngle is eovered, during the month of 

 April, with flowers of the cliniLer Jasminum malaharicum. which make one 

 of the most attractive and mo<t fragrant elements in the daily view. The 

 flowers open during March, and only a few odd stragglers are left after the 

 end of April, Tlio flower of this, as of all the jasmines, is very vnriahle, ;nKl 

 a recent stay ^vhich I made in these jungles when the plant happened to he 



in tl 



ower 



led me to examine the calyx and corolla of a hirge number of 

 flowers (undoubtedly absolutely wild), in order to try and ascertain the 

 extent of their variability, and how far there was any correlation between 

 the numl>er of lobes of the corolla and of the calyx. 



Between April 13th and 20th, 1916, the lobes of tlie corolla from 2789 

 flowers and the lobes or teeth of the calyx from 35()0 flowers were counted, 

 with the following results : 



Corolla lobes. 



Flowers witli-{ 



una 



« 



r '^ 



lobes 



! (5 



do. 



7 



do. 



« 



do. 



9 



do. 



10 



do. 



11 



do. 



11-^ 



do. 



9 

 208 

 897 



4 Co 



70 



8 



1 



0-33 



per cent, 

 per cent. 



7-48 _ 



M-IG per cent. 



40-;i:i 



16'67 

 2-72 



per cent. 

 per cent, 

 per cent 



0-28 per cent. 

 04 per cent. 



Total .... 2789 



Caly.10 lobes or teelh. 



C4 teeth 



5 do. 



Flo-vvers witt^ 6 do, 



j 7 do. 

 t_8 do. 



91 



1047 



1702 



112 



8 



2-5G 

 46-26 

 47-81 



.•^-ir) 



0-22 



per cent. 



per cent, 

 per cent, 

 per cent, 

 per cent. 



Total . . . 



3560 



The most frequent number of corolla lobes is eight, but a smaller number 

 is more likely than a higher number. The frequency of flowers with five or 

 with six calyx teeth is ahnost equal. Those with four or with seven teeth 



th 



One calvx tooth was 



