SOME NOTES ON THE LINACEAE. 



THE CROSS POLLINATION OF FLAX. 

 By J. VARGAS EYRE and G. SMITH, B.Sc. 



{From the Research Department, South-Eastern Agricultural College, 



Wije.) 



Whilst testing a large number of species of Linaceae for cyanophoric 

 glucosides during the past three years, it was observed that those 

 species carrying white, bhie or red Mowers were more or less richly 

 cyanophoric whereas the yellow flowered species, which for the most 

 part exhibit an entirely different habit, failed to yield hydrogen cyanide 

 and seemed to be devoid of cyanogenetic enzyme. During 1913 obser- 

 vations were made on a larger number of both blue and yellow flowered 

 species and the previous observations have been confirmed. (Studies 

 on Enzyme Action, xviii, Royal Soc. Proc, B, vol. LXXXV, 1912.) 



That the absence of cyanophoric glucoside and its enzyme is in 

 any way correlated with the presence of the yellow pigment cannot be 

 stated, but the fact that both glucoside and enzyme are absent from 

 yellow flowered varieties led to the attempt being made to produce a 

 yellow flowered flax containing glucoside or enzyme, or both', so as to 

 throw light upon the (juestion of the inheritance of Chemical Charac- 

 teristics, and from this point of view the work has been extended. The 

 present circumstances, however, are likely to cause a break in this work, 

 and it is therefore considered desirable at this stage to place on record 

 the observations which have been made. 



' The most complete infoniiation relating to hybrid flaxes appears to be contained in 

 Graebner's Si/iwpsix der Mittdeuropilischen Flora but, with the exception of the uncer- 

 tain cross L. saholoides x ctiphmm, the only cases referred to, namely L. pcrenne x 

 uiiKtriacuiii. and L. narbonennsex usitatisshiium, both due to Kolreuter (Nov. Act. Acad. 

 Sri. Petrop. i. p. S'i'J), do not afford the examples required. 



