26 Latent and Semi-Latent Characters. 
ity of the phenomena which led DARWIN to his theory of 
the slow transformation of species. For at that time it 
was believed that the inception of this process was to 
be sought in the variation of a character already exist- 
ing, whereas as a matter of fact the variation in question 
is independent of the fluctuation of the existing char- 
acters. 
6. The origin of a constant variety or a new species 
could be easily imagined to occur in this way: First a 
half race would arise from a pure race, then from this 
half race a middle race and lastly, from this latter, a new 
constant form. But this would be pure fancy, since it 
is without any basis of fact. Besides in many cases the 
intermediate stages are entirely wanting. 
4. HALF RACES AND HALF CURVES. 
The study of anomalies must be based on the theory 
that external factors can only be efficient in altering the 
form of the plant if the power to react to them (or the 
potentiality for the change) is already present. 1 'The 
induction of malformations by external causes is no more 
than the manifestation of latent potentialities," says GOE- 
BEL. 2 
Every plant possesses a whole host of such latenV 
potentialities. A single plant of Plantago lanceolata may 
be ramosa, stipitata, and bracteata\ it may have splil 
leaves and pitchers composed of one or two leaves; and 
it may exhibit abnormal twisting and forked ears, or 
present a whole series of other anomalies. The seeds of 
a single self-fertilized plant will very often give rise to 
1 See Intracellulare Pangcnesis, p. 194. 
2 GoEBEL, Organo graphic, p. 158. 
