286 Rhodora [DECEMBER 
they were grown, nor did fertilization follow when pollen was trans- 
ferred to the stigmas by hand, although both Z. syphilitica and Z. 
cardinalis, near by, had well developed pods of fertile seeds. 
The reverse cross of the hybrid was not obtained by Mr. Leavitt, 
but according to Carl Friedrich v. Gartner in his “Versuche und 
Beobachtungen über die Bastarderzeugung im Pflanzenreich," page 
223, it is not distinguishable from Zodelia x syphilitico-cardinalis. 
Often when species much given to variation are crossed, the hybrid 
progeny is apt to present many puzzling combinations of the par- 
ental traits. This frequently gives origin to the belief that certain 
peculiarities may be accounted for by the róle played by the parent 
species according as one or the other happens to be male or female. 
However, some species may bring about extensive variations in 
hybrid forms no matter what part they have taken in fertilization 
and these variations will occur whether the species in question is 
used as a seed- or a pollen-parent. Of course it has been stated by 
hybridists, whose testimony cannot be doubted, that differences which 
show maternal and paternal influences in an unmistakable way, do 
occur in reciprocal crosses. But it has been the writer's experience 
that the variation in the progeny of reciprocal crosses, especially 
when distinct species are used, is not necessarily the result of the 
disposition of the parents as male and female, but the consequence 
of individual traits which are apt to appear in similar combinations 
no matter which of the parents bears the seed or furnishes the pollen. 
The accompanying plate was carefully prepared from the first 
hybrid which bloomed, a plant with magenta-crimson flowers. For 
the sake of contrast the hybrid was placed in the centre of the plate 
with Z. cardinalis on the left and Z. syphilitica on the right. 
AMES BOTANICAL LABORATORY, North Easton, Massachusetts. 
WooDsIA GLABELLA IN MAINE.— On the rst of September, 1903, I 
collected a few specimens of Woodsia glabella, R. Br., in Township 
No. 1, East of the Kennebec, Fifth Range of Bingham's Purchase. 
The specimens were well fruited but not very abundant. ‘This rare 
and interesting species appears to have been hitherto unrecorded for 
Maine.— J. FRANKLIN CoLLins, Providence, Rhode Island. 
