IN FUCHSIA GLOBOSA. 397 
have observed about their history, their great number will hardly 
cause surprise. And though it be not possible to trace the 
pareut forms of Fuchsia globosa in this way, still the conclusions 
drawn from the examination, taken in connection with morpho- 
logy, may be found to throw some light upon the ancestors of 
the genus Fuchsia and its relation to the other genera of the 
same family. 
Generally speaking, all the different parts of the flower do not 
show the same liability to modification, a fact that has also been 
noted in other plants, As far as our Fuchsias are concerned, 
the stamens are the least subject to modification, while, on the 
other hand, the four petals in very many flowers have more or 
less altered or diminished their size or have even quite disap- 
peared. Next follow the sepals, which, though sometimes 
changing their position from superior to inferior, and not seldom 
becoming foliaceous instead of being coloured, yet in most flowers 
remain normal. Finally comes the pistil, of which part it may 
be said that it is the most constant of all the parts of the flower. 
This rule about the variability of course holds good only for the 
specimens which we have had an opportunity of examining, and 
which have been raised by cuttings from special varieties. It is, 
however, not improbable that the examination of other varieties 
would bring to light other malformations. 
The present paper is the outcome of a long continued obser- 
vation of monstrous Fuchsias by Mr. J. J. Smith, Jun., aud my- 
self. Most of the flowers described were grown in the nursery 
of Messrs. Groenewegen & Co., Amsterdam. Mr. Smith, whose 
connection with the said gentlemen gave him an excellent oppor- 
tunity for watching any monstrosities that might occur, has 
moreover undertaken to furnish the more elaborate drawings. 
In the second place, Prof. Hugo de Vries put at our disposal, 
for the purposes of this investigation, all the specimens relating 
to Fuchsia contained in his copious collection of monstrosities. 
Most of these preparations are distinguished by a transparency 
that bears witness to the excellence of Prof. de Vries's method 
of alcoholie preservation. I may observe by the way that some 
2 per cent. hydrochlorie acid added to the alcohol produces this 
remarkable effect *. 
* Nature, 1886, Dec. 16. Also 'Maandblad voor Natuurwetenschappen,' 
1886, pp. 4 and 80 ; id. 1887, p. 45. 
