794 Fluctuations 



rare monstrosities are in the same category, 

 especially when they are of so rare occurrence 

 as not to give any noticeable contribution to 

 the seed-production, or even if they render their 

 bearers incapable of reproduction. In such 

 cases the selection of normal plants is very se- 

 vere or even absolute, but the anomalies are by 

 no means exterminated. Any favorable circum- 

 stances, or experimental selection in their be- 

 half shows them to be still capable of full devel- 

 opment. Numerous cases of such subordinate 

 hereditary characters constitute the greater 

 part of the science of vegetable teratology. 



If it should be objected that all these cases 

 cover too short a time to be decisive, or at least 

 fail in giving evidence relative to former times, 

 alpine plants afford a proof which one can 

 hardly expect to be surpassed. During the 

 whole present geologic epoch they have been 

 subjected to the never failing selection of their 

 climate and other external conditions. They 

 exhibit a full and striking adaptation to these 

 conditions, but also possess the latent capacity 

 for assuming lowland characters as soon as 

 they are transported into such environment. 

 Obviously this capacity never becomes active 

 on the mountains, and is always counteracted 

 by selection. This agency is evidently without 

 any effect, for as we have seen when dealing 



