726 EXPERIMENT STATIOX RECORD. 



abortion of yoiin>; j)ollen grains and embryo sacs in three species and one 

 variety of Stizolobium. 



After discussing the particular and general effects of crossing in each of 

 three generations, the author states that six families of the fertile plants 

 have been grown on a large scale in the fourth and tifth generations, and all 

 proved fertile, three of the lines obtained being of agricultural value. He 

 l)resents a working hji)Othesis claimed to account for all facts at present 

 known in this coiniectiou. 



Plant chimeras, P. Popenok (Jour. Heredity, 5 {I'Jl.'f), Xo. 12, pp. 521-oS^, 

 figs. !>)■ — This is a discussion of so-called graft hybrids, including mention of 

 early cases observed and later cases studied, recent exr)eriniental production of 

 these chimeras with explanations of their behavior as regards chlorophyll 

 characters and chromosome numbers, and mention of what is possibly the only 

 genuine graft hybrid (Solanum dancinianum) now known. 



Heredity in chimeras, W. S. Chapin (Jour. Heredity, 5 (1914), ^o. 12, pp. 

 533-5. 'iG, fiiis. 7). — This is an account of the study of the progeny of a si)ecimeu 

 of AmaranthuH rctroflexus which possessed variegated leaves and was regarded 

 as a sectorial chimera. The offsi)ring consisted of green, white, and a few 

 variegated seedlings. Only green offspring were jiroduced from green stn^d- 

 lings or green branches, and white brandies when self-fertilized (cross-fertiliza- 

 tion not being tried) produced only white offspring. It is thought that the 

 heredity of this plant belongs to the tyi)e of variegated chimeras, the variegated 

 plants coming from a cross between green and white gametes. 



Bud variations in Coleus, A. B. Stout (Ahs. in Science, n. ser., Jfl (1915), 

 .A'q. lO'iS, p. 178). — The author states that plants propagated vegetatively 

 through six generations develop two types of changes, fiuctuations and muta- 

 tions. Although the different patterns which arose were remarkably constant 

 in vegetative propagation, each exhibited further changes in the epigenetic 

 development and distribution of the red pigmentation. The phenomena asso- 

 ciated with the apix^ai'ance and subsequent behavior of the different bud 

 variations are quite similar to the phenomena of variation, mutation, and 

 alternative inheritance in a seetl progeny of hybrid origin. 



Inheritance of certain seed characters in com, R. A. Harper (Ahs. in Sci- 

 ence, n. ser., 41 (1915), No. 10J,8. pp. 177, 178).— The author states that the 

 various pigmentations of the integument, aleuroue layer, and endosperm are 

 metidentical characters, that is. the same in the cells as they are in the tissues 

 or kernel as a whole. The pattern in the case of streaked or mottled grains is 

 a character of the tissue as a whole. The form of the dent kernels is a 

 character of the kernel due to the nature and distribution of the starch and 

 other elements in the tissues. The wrinkled form of the kernels of sweet corn 

 is more nearly identical with the shrinkage of the individual cells of the endo- 

 sperm. By crossing these different forms intermediates may be obtained be- 

 tween any two contrasting characters, and selection tends to develop tixity of 

 type, although the range of variation may at first be even higher than that of 

 either iiarent. 



Inheritable variations in the yellow daisy, A. F. Blakeslee (Abs. in 

 Science, n. ser.. Jfl (1915), No. 10J,8, p. /78).— From a study of the yellow 

 daisy (Rudheckia hirta) the author has foimd a large number of I'ay char- 

 acters, such as absence, reduplication, length, color, constriction, transforma- 

 tion of rays into tubes, and differences in shai>e, size, and color of disk, as 

 well as vegetative characters, such as height, branching, leaf character, fascl- 

 ations, etc. 



(Enothera lamarckiana and the (Enotheras of the forest of Fontainebleau. 

 L. Blaringhem (Rev. Gen. Dot., 25 his (1914). pp. 35-50. fig. 1). — The author 



