206 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



save some seed from the plant to see if the tendency 

 is hereditary." 



Miss Armitage sent me from Ross, a sketch, 

 accompanied by the following note: "This is a 

 specimen illustrating the vegetable teratology that 

 you are now exemplifying in Science-Gossip, and if 

 you care to use it, pray do so. It is a scape of 

 dandelion, with two capitula closed after expansion ; 

 also there is a malformed leaf half way up the stem, 

 and in the axil between that leaf and the peduncle is 

 a tiny stem surmounted by two phyllaries, which 

 seems to show that it had contemplated adding yet 

 another flower there, but did not advance far towards 



The fasciated specimen of goose-grass {Galium 

 aparine) here figured is exceedingly curious. The 

 leaves all spring from one side ; the twisted appear- 

 ance of the stem probably represents the phyllotaxial 

 arrangements, modified from a square to a practically 

 round stem. 



Mr. B. C. Robinson writes as follows : — " Gathered 

 May 7th, from among many other good specimens of 

 Geutn rivale. Stamens at least twenty, and styles 

 many ; petals a reddish brown with many veins ; 

 calyx composed of green leaves resembling the stem 

 leaves in colour and texture. The number of petals 

 is at least thirteen expanded, and others folded and 



Fig. 122. — Curious fasciated specimen of Goose Grass {Galium aparine). 



it. The different specimens already presented are 

 very interesting. I have observed many others from 

 time to time." 



Very notable is our sketch of the ox-eye daisy, 

 showing the outer and usually strap-shaped florets 

 converted into barren tubular florets. Some years 

 ago I saw a common daisy with the same peculiarity. 

 No botanist doubts that the ligulate division of the 

 composite was derived from the tubulate ; and these 

 " monstrosities " are merely reversions demonstrating 

 the law of descent. I am indebted to the Rev. D. 

 Landsborough, of Kilmarnock, for this instructive 

 example. 



about to expand. Sir J. E. Smith, in ' English 

 Flora,' observes the G. rivale to have a rich purplish 

 brown calyx, but this specimen has not, but a green- 

 leaved one. In remarking about a hybrid G. rivale, 

 he observes it is produced "by transplanting the 

 wild roots into a dry gravelly soil, by which the 

 flowers become red, as well as double and proliferous, 

 with many strange changes of leaves into petals and 

 the contrary. This variation happens not unfre- 

 quently in mountainous countries.' As it is a moun- 

 tainous or very hilly country, I think I am not wrong 

 in assuming my specimen to be one of his hybrids." 



J. E. Taylor. 



