PERFECT FLOWERS IN MAIZE 



347 



Fig. 3. The unusual Type of Plant, producing ears in Fig. 2, and which seem to 

 be associated with the production of hermaphrodite flowers in maize. 



and the central spike of the tassel, and strong evidence was found in 

 support of the theory that the ear was a development from the central 

 spike of the tassel borne on a lateral branch of the plant, the other 

 branches of this tassel becoming abortive. Good examples were found 

 of ears, showing remnants of these lateral tassel branches, confirming 

 the above statements. At that time the author had only observed the 

 perfect flowers in the very young stages of development and on more or 

 less deformed plants. Fig. 1 is reproduced from the article referred 

 to, indicating the character of these flowers. 



Since then, types of corn showing this hermaphrodite flower on 

 normal types of ears have been observed. Fig. 2 is an illustration of 

 such an ear. 1 Some thirty plants of this were grown and all came true 



1 The seed of this was secured from Mr. C. P. Hartley, Department of 

 Agriculture, Washington, D. C, who discovered the plant as a reversion in one 

 of his breeding plats. 



