ME. J. BROUGHTON ON HYBBIDISM AMONG CINCnONX 475 



Note on Hybridism among Cinchonse. By J, Beoughton, B.Sc, 

 r.C.S., Chemist to the Ciacliona Plantations of the Madras 

 G-overnment, 



The Cinchonse have long been known as plants whose flowers 

 show in each individual that singular difference in the respective 

 prominence of the stamens and pistil which has since received the 

 name of dimorphism. The special forms have been named by the 

 Spaniards respectively macJio and hemhra, according as the male or 

 female organs are prominent in the blossoms of any single tree. 

 The researches of Mr. Darwin have shown the consequences of 

 this peculiarity as it affects the fertilization of the seed in the 

 parallel cases of Primula, Oxalis, &c.* 



On the Cinchona plantations of the Madras G-overnment are 

 now growing, blossoming, and fruiting nearly all the valuable 

 febrifuge-yielding species. Individuals of the various species are, 



instances 



The 



seeds are produced in great abundance, and have been used for 

 the purpose of obtaining seedling plants for the extension of the 

 plantations : under these circumstances, it might have been pre- 

 dicted beforehand that hybrids would appear, 



occur 



mist. But as it is my duty to make a chemical examination of 

 the bark of all varieties occurring on the plantations, some cir- 

 cumstances occurred which brought the above prominently under 

 my notice. Among some young trees raised from Neilgherry 

 seed was a plant of great beauty, quite distinct in appearance 

 from any of the elder or originally introduced kinds. It had the 

 general aspect, pyramidal habit, and luxuriance of (7. succwubra^ 

 but at the same time the lovely purple tints and velvety appear- 

 ance which characterize the leaves of the " Grey Barks " when 

 young. Its bark resembled that of G. succiruhray but was lighter 

 in colour. But on analysis it yielded 1*45 per cent, of nearly 

 pure cincJionine, instead of about 3*00 per cent- of alkaloid mainly 

 consisting of quinine and cinchonidine, as was the general yield 

 of its neighbours of C. succirubra of the same age. So unusual a 

 result led me so repeat the analysis and to make full inquiries 

 into the origin of the plant. I then learned from the Assistant 

 Superintendent in charge of the plantation that the plant had 



* After numerous trials I have not succeeded in detecting any clear difference 

 between the amounts of alkaloid contained in the bark of the macho and hemhra 

 forms. 



