MORPHOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES IN THE TOMATO. 185 



Adventitious buds on the stem, as in many plants, are common 

 near the base, but on the upper parts all the adventitious buds I 

 have observed are due to injury of the stem. 



Of the leaf. — Leafy processes resembling stipules are frequent. 

 In the normal state the plant is exstipulate. 



Leafy processes and adventitious buds are formed on the rachis 

 (as in Asplenium decussatum). 



Of the floiL'er and fruit. — In the normal state the flowers are 

 ehracteate^ but in some varieties bracts are common. 



The normal number of the segments of the calyx and corolla is 

 five each ; six and seven sefrments are more common. 



Prolification of the floral axis is extremely common ; the adven- 

 titious branch may be terminal^ lateral, or axillary. 



A secondary prolification of the fioral axis, after the fruit is well 

 set and nearly ripe, is not uncommon, the development of which is 

 peculiar. This process is generally axillary, and at first presents the 

 appearance of a diminutive and attenuated, but otherwise ordinary 

 leaf. On closer examination it will be found that there is a slight 

 swelling near the centre of w^hat is apparently the petiole of the 

 leaf. From this sw^ollen portion to its base it will be observed 

 that it has the appearance of a stem, in so far as it is perfectly 

 cylindrical, while the part from the swollen portion to the lamina 

 of the leaf is flattened on the upper surface, and generally 

 channelled as in the ordinary petiole of the normal leaf. Further 

 development reveals the fact that this process is in reality a 

 branch, as there is a bud concealed in the tissue of the swollen 

 portion of what might be taken as the petiole of the leaf. 



Fasciation of the flower and fruit is common. 



Of the secondary axillary shoots. — The " stopping " of the 

 ordinary lateral branches formed in the axils of the leaves is not 

 suflicient to discourage the exuberance of the plant at these 

 points, and in this connection the following phenomena have 

 been observed : — 



(1) Lateral adventitious branches may be formed on one or 



both sides of the axillary branch that has been removed. 



(2) An adventitious branch may be formed in the axil between 



the base of the branch that has been removed and the 



petiole of the leaf. 



c 



