The Significance of the Atavists. 
523 
The curve representing these 35 plants would have 
a distinct peak representing the atavists and another cor- 
responding to the fasciated individuals of the average 
breadth of 3 centimeters. 1 
In Geranium inolle fasciatum the variation of this 
character proved, after a statistical examination of the 
material to be represented by a many-peaked curve. This 
Fig. 120. Geranium mollc fasciatum. a, fruit containing 
6 single fruits ; b, split into one group of 4 and one of 
5 ; c, split into three groups containing 5 7 and 5 single 
fruits ; d, one group has 16 and the other 5 divisions of 
fruit and stigmas; c, fruit \vith 33 divisions and stigmas 
(1895). 
race 2 is remarkable from the fact that the stems have, 
as is well known, a sympodial structure (Fig. 119), 
Therefore the anomaly affects, as a rule, one member of 
the sympodium only ; but sometimes it extends to two 
or more adjacent ones. These are again succeeded by 
atavistic members. Each part terminates in a flower. 
1 Revue gcncrale de botaniquc, 1899, Vol. XI, p. 143. 
s Botanisch Jaarb. Gent, 1894, P- 81 ; and 1897, p. 67. 
