2 White Primula sinensis 



Thus, of white varieties of Primula sinensis hitherto investigated, 

 those with coloured stems are "dominant whites," and those with green 

 stems " recessive whites." 



One exception to this rule is already known : the green stemmed, 

 white variety Pearl having been shown to be a dominant white. 



The purpose of this note is to record the existence of what appear 

 to be exceptions to the rule of dominant white among coloured stemmed, 

 white varieties. 



The evidence is based on the gametic behaviour of Snow King, a 

 variety which has white flowers and dark red stems. 



Plants of Snow King, raised in 1908 from seed obtained from 

 Messrs Barr, proved true to type, except for an occasional magenta 

 flaking of the petals of a few plants. The variety again bred true to type 

 in 1909. 



In 1908, three plants of Snow King were used for crossing with the 

 following coloured varieties : 



Reading Pink (pale pink flowers, green stem). 



Crimson King (dark red flowers, reddish stem). 



Pink Stellata (pale magenta flowers, reddish stem). 



A green stemmed variety with pink flowers a shade deeper than in 

 Reading Pink, numbered 2 A. 



It should be remarked that, in green stemmed, coloured flowered 

 varieties of P. sinensis, the deeper flower colours of the self-coloured 

 types are not fully developed. Such plants however carry the factors 

 for the deep colours; for, when they are crossed with coloured stemmed 

 varieties with pale coloured flowers, the deeper shades are fully 

 developed in the coloured stemmed offspring. 



The F^ generations, obtained from the crosses between Snow King 

 and the several plants enumerated above, were as follows : — 



Expt. No. Cross Descri|.tion of /•, plants 



20-2 Snow King x Crimson King' 10 tinged white : 9 magenta 



52 EeaJing Piukx Snow King' 5 >, ,, : 3 ,, 



200 Pink Stellata X Snow King 12 ,, ,, (nearly pure white) 



2 A (Green stem x Snow King, flowers pink) 8 pale magenta 



A uniform F^ f:imily of whites or tinged whites occurs in only one 

 of these crosses. In No. 2 A, the F^ consists of coloured flowered plants 

 and, in Nos. 20-2 and 52, it is composed of tinged whites and coloured 

 in about equal pro])ortions. 



' The same plant of Snow King was used in crosses 20-2 and 52. 



