Nov., 1910] Monstrosity in Trillium grandiflorum 19 



The interpretation of abnormal forms is a matter of consid- 

 erable interest. At first the writer was inclined to regard the 

 flower as diseased, the abnormal structure representing a 

 response on the part of the plant to the stimulating effect of 

 some fungus or insect injury. In spite of the most careful 

 examination however, no evidence of any infection was found; 

 and the writer was forced to regard the flower as a typical 

 instance of monstrous growth. Such an abnormality can be 

 regarded either as reversion to an ancestral type, or as a mor- 

 phological translocation, or as a mutation. To those interested 

 in the interpretation of these forms a very able discussion of 

 the matter in a paper by Leavitt {Rhodora, Vol. 7, '05, p. 13-19 

 and 21-31) will undoubtedly prove of interest. The writer is 

 not satisfied himself as to the true explanation of an abnormal- 

 ity such as this; and prefers merely to record the case here as 

 one of interest, leaving the interpretation thereof to those more 

 competent for the task. In connection however, with the pos- 

 sibility that such forms as these are mutations it is of interest 

 to note that the abnormal T. undulatum described by Mr. 

 Deane from Squam Lake, N. H., seemed to remain constant for 

 years under natural conditions, while the double flowered 

 T. grandiflorum from Ohio reported by Mrs. Kellerman remained 

 constant under cultivation for ten years always producing an 

 excessive number of petals. It is unfortunate that none of the 

 ovules of the plant described by the writer had matured so that 

 they might be planted to determine whether this abnormality 

 also was one to which the offspring would breed true. One can 

 only conjecture what the result would have been had the pollen 

 of this plant been made to fertilize a normal flower; and the 

 writer very much regrets that no growing plants were available 

 so that this most interesting experiment could be attempted. 

 Next season the writer hopes to visit the spot from which this 

 specimen came; and make a further study of the inheritance of 

 this abnormality. In the meantime he would be very glad to 

 receive from botanists of this region data on any unusual forms 

 of this unstable genus. 



Adlebert College, Cleveland, Ohio. 



