DEPARTMENT OF BOTANICAL RESEARCH. 75 



two placentae. When supernumerary pistils were present, usually 

 two in number, the ovaries were open and distorted, displaying the 

 more or less imperfect ovules along the margins. In extreme cases 

 the androecium and gyncEcium were entirely abated, and the axis, 

 w^ith branches from the axils of the corolla lobes, might be proliferate, 

 bearing foliage in whorls, followed by other abnormal flowers. These 

 in all cases were paler in color, more or less virescent, and always 

 notably shorter than normal flowers with respect to the constituent 

 members. The degree of abnormality was less when the plants were 

 young, as would be expected, and earlier in the season than later. 



Successful pollinations with pollen from normal plants were made 

 in three instances, in which the pistils were normal. The seed (Fi) 

 was grown at the University of California. The seedlings w^ere trans- 

 planted in September 1916 into a bed prepared in an isolated position 

 at the upper end of the Coastal Laboratory garden. Here in 1917 

 they flowered. These plants were entirely normal. The seed from 

 these interpoUinated plants w^as also grown at Berkeley, and previous 

 to September 1920 had yielded 155 plants, which had flowered. Of 

 these, 122 were normal and 33 abnormal, which produced teratoids 

 of the same character as those observed on the ovulate Pi plant. 



The ratio obtained in F2 (4 normal to 1 abnormal) may have re- 

 sulted from the condition of spontaneous pollination permitted, 

 although it was thought that the plants were fairly well isolated. 

 It is sufficiently close, hov/ever, to indicate the character of the in- 

 heritance. 



The culture and observing of the plants at the University of Cali- 

 fornia was possible through the very kind cooperation of Professor 

 E. B. Babcock and Dr. J. L. Coflins. The culture is still available 

 there. 





