224 Cytology and Genetiesi of the Genus Fuchsia 



fragrans, etc., fertilisation of the egg-cell takes place and this leads to 

 the development of an adventitious embryo, formed vegetatively, with- 

 out the egg-cell itself contributing to the new generation^ 



Or, as in the case of Opuntia vulgaris, the embryo may arise vegeta- 

 tively as the direct result of the stimulus given by the penetration of the 

 pollen tube into the tissues of the stigma and style although fertilisation 

 of the egg-cell is not necessarily effected at alP. 



A third possibility is that fertilisation of the egg-cell takes place 

 normally, but the female nucleus alone is able to impress itself upon the 

 cytoplasm of the egg whilst the male nucleus remains completely with- 

 out influence. 



Such a case is known to zoologists through the work of Godlewski 

 upon the fertilisation of the eggs of Echinus with the sperm of the 

 Crinoid Antedon. Here he obtained larvae which showed no trace of 

 Crinoid character". 



It is to be hoped that future investigation may discover which of 

 these possible explanations of the phenomenon applies in the case of 

 the Fuchsias, 



(2) Double Fuchsia, "Ballet Oirl." 



A plant of this was selfed and yielded a quantity of seed. From a 

 sowing of this six seedlings were raised and grown to the flowering stage. 

 Of these plants all six were identical and the exact likeness of the original 

 parent. Although I have not been able to ascertain the history of "Ballet 

 Girl" it cannot be doubted that it is a hybrid and it is rather unexpected 

 to find no trace of segregation amongst its offspring. 



(3) F. globosa (green) x F. gracilis (variegated). 



Fuchsia, globosa with green foliage was crossed with Fuchsia gracilis 

 possessing variegated leaves. 



Thirteen seedlings were obtained shownig the following characters: — 



8 seedlings with green cotyledons. 

 3 seedlings with yellow cotyledons. 

 2 seedlings with white cotyledons. 



' See Strasburger, E., "Ueber Polyembryonie." Jen. Zeitschr. f. Naturwiss. Bd. xii. 

 p. 662, 1878. 



- See Ganong, W. F., "On polyembryony and its morphology in Opuntia vulgaris." 

 Bot. Gaz. Vol. XXV. p. 224, 1898. 



* See Godlewski, E., " Untersuchungen iiber die Bastaidierung der Echinoideu und 

 Crinoiden Familien." Arch. Entwick. mech. Bd. xx. p. 579, 1906. 



