4 PROCEEDIXGS OF THE 



iiinount of pigineiit ; iiiiil wlieii t-rossed with tlie parent type the 

 new cbiinicter behaves as a MeiidcHaii dominant, and so as to 

 show that the original mutant individual was Iieterozygous and 

 ])robably originated from a cross between a germ-cell in which 

 tlie new dominant character appeared and one in which it was 

 lacking. 



From this and much other evidence, mutation in Oenothera 

 appears to be due to a general condition of germinal instability, 

 which in turn is probably connected with crossing in theancestr)'. 

 This, however, by no means deprives it of evolutionary significance, 

 for all open-pollinated species of plants are h^'brids in the sense 

 that various races have participated in their immediate ancestry. 



The paper, which was illustrated by lantern-slides, was discussed' 

 by Dr. Helen Fraser and the President, the author replying. 



Mr. Gr. Clvbidoe Druce, in his exhibition entitled " Some 

 Floristic results of the International Phytogeographic Excursion 

 through the British Isles " during the past summer, gave an 

 account of the places visited during the five weeks spent on the 

 tour, and touched on the species and varieties discovered. (Abstract, 



P- 77-) 



Dr. C. E. xMoss (visitor), the Eev. T. E. R. Stehbing, Mr. William 

 Fawcett, and Mr. .1. C. Sheustone discussed certain points raised, 

 and Mr. Druce replied. 



Mr. Arthur W. Hill showed drawings of a viviparous speci- 

 men of Juncus bufonius, in which the seedlings were seen emerging 

 from the parent capsule. 



Mr. N. C. Mao'amara contributed some remarks on " Muta- 

 tions in Foxglove plants," which was communicated by Prof. A. 

 Dexdt, and read by the General Secretary, as follows : — 



The following record is intended to supplement the communi- 

 cation made to the Linnean Society, on my behalf, by Prof. A. 

 Dendy, F.K.S., on the 16th of June, 1910, concerning mutations 

 in cei'tain Foxglove plants grown at Chorley Wood, Herts. 



From a packet of Foxglove seeds {Dujitalis ^^urpurea) sown in 

 the year 1906, fifty-four plants were, in June 1907, planted in a 

 shrubbery of fir-trees with an undergrowth of laurels. Of these 

 plants fifty-one grew into normal Foxgloves, but the three re- 

 maining plants were sports which we may distinguish by the 

 letters A, J?, and C. 



A. In this plant the flowers of the lower half of the stem 

 possessed only a bifid upper petal and seven stamens united at 

 their bases. The flowei's of the upper part of the spike were 

 normal. 



B. A fine, \\ ell-grown plant 4|| feet high ; throughout the 



