Nov., 19 IG] Monstrosity in Trill i it ni grandiflorum 17 



specimen of the same species with about fourteen parts to the 

 perianth was collected by Prof. William R. Dudley in New 

 York State {The Cayuga Flora, 'S(), p. 99); while Britton and 

 Brown (Vol. 1, p. 437) refers to a plant collected in Michigan 

 by Dr. Pitcher which showed the peculiar abnormality of two 

 long-petioled leaves. 



The purpose of the following note is to describe a form of 

 monstrosity not as yet recorded for the species as far as the 

 writer knows with the hope that interest in phenomena of this 

 nature may be aroused among botanists of this region. 



On May 10, 1916, Dr. F. W. Hitchings brought into the 

 laboratory at Adelbert College three specimens of T. grandi- 

 florum which through the kindness of Prof. F. H. Herrick were 

 turned over to the writer for examination. One of these spec- 

 imens was quite typical, the other two were distinct monstros- 

 ities. All three had been gathered in woods in the neighborhood of 

 Cleveland from a large patch of flowers several of which had 

 caught the attention of the collector because of their peculiar 

 appearance. One of the abnormal flowers showed three super- 

 posed whorls of sepal-like structures; but since a caterpillar had 

 involved the floral parts in its cocoon, this flower was rejected. 

 The other abnormal flower, however, was a vigorous and uninjured 

 one, consequently its structure was examined in detail. The 

 leaves of this plant were normal in shape, size, and position;; 

 and there was nothing unusual in the position of the floral 

 parts, since they were borne on a short peduncle 4 cm. above 

 the leaves. In structure however, the flower differed markedly 

 from the normal. Instead of showing the usual succession of a 

 whorl of three sepals followed by three large white petals, the 

 perianth consisted of three successive whorls of sepal-like 

 structures surmounted by a whorl, the members of which 

 partook of the nature of petals and sepals as shown in Fig. 2. 



The flrst or lowest whorl consisted of three sepal-like 

 structures similar in color, venation, and texture to sepals but 

 more elongate-lanceolate in shape, 5.5-6 cm. long by l.S-2 cm. 

 wide at the widest part, (Fig. 2 and 3). In the second whoil, 

 which alternated with the first, the members were smaller, 

 being 4.5-5 cm. long and 1.2-1.5 cm. wide, and slightly paler in 

 color, (Fig. 2 and 3.) The members of the third whorl were 

 alternate to those of the second, but with a slight twist to the 

 right so that they were not directly above the first, (Fig. 2 and 3). 



