1897.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 285 



decided whether this suppression primarily caused the deformity hy 

 interfering with the normal cell development, or if the center of the 

 disturbance is to be found in the unusual leaf development which 

 thus might have destroyed the activity at the " punctual vegeta- 

 tionis." The abnormal growth had the shape of a cornucopia which 

 was perfectly hollow, and in which every trace of the terminal bud 

 was effaced. The plant was producing shoots at all available points, 

 the normal shoots haviug an appearance such as is represented in 

 Plate V, fig. 3. These were growing so rapidly in length that long 

 before the young leaves had arrived at maturity, the growing point 

 had advanced considerably beyond them. A glance at the figure 

 although little can be gleanedfrom it so far as the cause of the dis- 

 turbance is concerned, will give an idea as to its further effect. The 

 impetus derived from the external favorable conditions of the season 

 which found expression in the luxuriant growth at all parts of the 

 vine, was directed to the pair of leaves below the monstrosity, and 

 at this point a branch emerged ; the nearest bit of meristem thus be- 

 came infused with increased activity and the nourishment supplied 

 was turned aside from its original path and sent in a new direction. 

 Below the deformity the branch had, however, continued 'to grow 

 in thickness. The abnormal growth was at first evidently purely a 

 local disturbance, there being absolutely nothing unhealthy about 

 the rest of the shoot as is found so often in cases of fasciations due 

 to irregular nourishment or other causes. As already suggested, it 

 will be a difficult matter to decide upon the true and full significance 

 of a monstrosity in each particular case. A single instance as the 

 one described above, will hardly warrant the assumption that it is 

 the expression of a family trait or peculiarity found in allied spe- 

 cies. The temptation is great, no doubt, to see in this case a ten- 

 dency to connate growth to which we are accustomed in Lonicera 

 flava and L. Caprifolium cropping out as a monstrosity in L. 

 Japonica. It must be remembered, however, that it is far more usual 

 to find that plants which ordinarily bear connate or perfoliate leaves 

 (which we are accustomed to regard as later developments) will 

 develop also some leaves which are simply sessile as e. g., Uvularia 

 perfoliate^ Thus it is that in monstrosities, so far as leaves are con- 

 cerned, we expect "reversions to primitive types" rather than the 

 acquirement of new characters. 



In the article referred to above, Sachs suggests that normal activ- 

 ity can only take place if all phenomena go on with mathematical 



