REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS IN THE PRIMULACER. 121 
then, of the form with the stigma rising above the anthers, which 
I only observed in a cultivated state this season, such testimony 
would have rendered highly probable the view I have taken as to 
the existence of a funetional dimorphism in this species; and this 
the more especially on taking into consideration the results of the 
few experiments I have lately had an opportunity of making. It 
is, indeed, only from the accordance of the latter with my pre- 
vious observations that I have ventured to refer sterility in this 
case to a dimorphism in function; and I think I am fully justi- 
fied in so doing; for how, I ask, can an explanation otherwise be 
afforded for the low fertility of the hermaphrodite conjunctions 
and the high fertility of the dicecious conjunctions? That such 
phenomena are presented by the individuals of this species I 
will now show by the following details of my experiments. 
In the summer of 1862 I examined every flower upon a fine 
scape of P. verticillata, and observed a very general equality in 
the length of the stamens and pistils. Ona subsequent examina- 
tion I observed more or less pollen on the stigmas of seventeen 
out of the twenty-three flowers borne upon the scape. The re- 
maining six I therefore artificially fertilized with own pollen. 
The results, however, were in no respect different from those pre- 
viously alluded to ; a high percentage of the capsules were utterly 
abortive, and the few which did swell contained no good seed. 
The results of my experiments this summer (1863) have some- 
what modified those of 1862, inasmuch as certain of the flowers 
fertilized by own pollen have yielded a considerable amount of 
seed; this will be seen by consulting the following table :— 
TABLE XIV.— Primula verticillata. 
= 
te a in u KI S M 
eds. 38-4 o rro ms E 
eng | BSP | um Oö | Hm BD © 
D m 2909 ety Oyo od 
EM Rogo uio mu Ep = 
gen | Fas | E98 leie = ZS 
m he — 
ESE ELE Forel Bs 
GE EK e e < 
Flowers fertilized by own 
polen a a ooe 18 8 3 769 256 
Flowers fertilized by pollen 
from a distinct plant ... 8 5 5 1245 249 
Flowers fertilized by pollen 
from a distinct plant ...| 10 8 7 1957 279 
Summary. 
Flowers fertilized by own 
pollen 10. 758 18 8 3 769 256 
Flowers fertilized by pollen 
from a distinct plant ..| 18 13 12 3202 267 
