l^ew Species of Oenothera 545 



narily met with among the offspring of the 

 shiny evening - primrose. They are ohlonga, 

 lata and nanella. Oblonga was observed at 

 times to constitute as much as 1% or more of 

 the sowings of scmtillans, while lata and 

 nanella were commonly seen only in a few 

 scattering individuals, although seldom lacking 

 in experiments of a sufficient size. 



Secondly the instability seems to be a con- 

 stant quality, although the words themselves are 

 at first sight, contradictory. I mean to con- 

 vey the conception that the degree of instability 

 remains unchanged during successive genera- 

 tions. This is a very curious fact, and strongly 

 reminds us of the hereditary conditions of 

 striped-flower varieties. But, on the contrary, 

 the atavists, which are here the individuals 

 with the stature and the characteristics of the 

 lamarcliiana, have become lamarckianas in 

 their hereditary qualities, too. If their seed is 

 saved and sown, their progeny does not contain 

 any scintillans, or at least no more than might 

 arise by ordinary mutations. 



One other inconstant new species is to be 

 noted, but as it was very rare both in the field 

 and in my cultures, and as it was difficult of cul- 

 tivation, little can as yet be said about it. It is 

 the Oenothera elliptica, with narrow elliptical 

 leaves and also with elliptical petals. It re- 



