108 BUD-VARIATION. Chap. XI. 



in a lesser degree in the foliage of the Pelargonium and Chrysan- 

 themum, have been noticed. I will now add a few more cases of 

 variation in leaf-buds. Verlot 60 states that on Aralia trifollafa, 

 which properly has leaves with three leaflets, branches frequently 

 appear bearing simple leaves of various forms; these can be propa- 

 gated by buds or by grafting, and have given rise, as he states, to 

 several nominal species. 



With respect to trees, the history of but few of the many varieties 

 with curious or ornamental foliage is known ; but several probably 

 have originated by bud- variation. Here is one case : — An old ash- 

 tree (Fraxinus excelsior) in the grounds of Necton, as Mr. Mason 

 states, " for many years has had one bough of a totally different 

 character to the rest of the tree, or of aoy other ash-tree which I 

 have seen; being short-jointed and densely covered with foliage." 

 It was ascertained, that this variety could be propagated by 

 grafts. 61 The varieties of some trees with cut leaves, as the oak- 

 leaved laburnum, the parsley-leaved vine, and especially the fern- 

 leaved beech, are apt to revert by buds to the common forms. 62 

 The fern-like leaves of the beech sometimes revert only partially, 

 and the branches display here and there sprouts bearing common 

 leaves, fern-like, and variously shaped leaves. Such cases differ 

 but little from the so-called heterophyllus varieties, in which the 

 tree habitually bears leaves of various forms; but it is probable 

 that most heterophyllous trees have originated as seedlings. There 

 is a sub-variety of the weeping willow with leaves rolled up into 

 a spiral coil ; and Mr. Masters states that a tree of this kind kept 

 true in his garden for twenty-five years, and then threw out a single 

 upright shoot bearing flat leaves. 63 



I have often noticed single twigs and branches on beech and 

 other trees with their leaves fully expanded before those on the 

 other branches had opened; and as there was nothing in their 

 exposure or character to account for this difference, I presume that 

 they had appeared as bud-variations, like the early and late fruit- 

 maturing varieties of the peach and nectarine. 



Qryptogamic plants are liable to bud-variation, for fronds on 

 the same fern often display remarkable deviations of structure. 

 Spores, which are of the nature of buds, taken from such abnormal 

 fronds, reproduce, with remarkable fidelity, the same variety, after 

 passing through the sexual stage. 64 



With respect to colour, leaves often become by bud-variation 

 zoned, blotched, or spotted with white, yellow, and red; and this 



00 'Des Varie'tes,' 1865, p. 5. tution Lecture,' March 16, 1860. 



61 W. Mason, in ' Gard. Chron.,' 64 See Mr. W. K. Bridgman's curious 

 1843, p. 878. paper in 'Annals and Mag. of Nat. 



62 Alex. Braun, 'Ray Soc. Bot. Hist.,' December, 1861 ; also Mr. J. 

 Mem ,' 1853, p. 315 ; ' Gard. Chron , Scott, ' Bot Soc. Edinburgh,' June 12. 

 184-1, p. 329. 1862, 



03 Dr. M. T. Masters, ' Royal Insti- 



