Transformation of JEgilops into Wheat. 105 



liending: in the midst of them TJ. Gallii. Other exactly similar 

 instances might be cited. 



An observer, having before him one of these series which 

 appear to unite and blend two species incontestably distinct, 

 would be naturally led, if he overlooked the hybrid origin of the 

 intermediate forms, to regard, for example, Narcissus pseudo- 

 narcissus as a simple metamorphosis of Narcissus posticus, or, in 

 other words, to admit the transformation of one species into 

 another, whatsoever might l)e the morphological value of the 

 characters which separated the two types. 



The study of hybrids produced spontaneously is therefore 

 useful to descriptive botany, but it has a far greater value in 

 reference to the fixity of species. The observations and experi- 

 ments which we are about to recount will place in a still stronger 

 light the foregoing reflections. 



The origin of cultivated wheat, which has not up to this time 

 been found in a Avild state in any part of the globe, already 

 occupied attention among the naturalists of ancient times, and it 

 was even attributed to j^qilops by the Greeks. This opinion 

 has been revived in our own times by several botanists, and 

 lately by M. Fabre, of Agde, and Professor Dunal. These 

 skilful observers have done what their predecessors neglected to 

 do : produced facts in support of their views, and it is necessary 

 here to recall the results of their observations.* 



It is well known that the spike of JEgilups ovata breaks at its 

 base when mature, that it does not become separated into pieces, 

 and that it preserves its seeds ti ;htly fixed to the floral envelopes. 

 This spike is introduced into the soil all in one piece, and the 

 four seeds it contains give birth in the following year to four 

 plants of JE[/ilops, distinct from one another, but with their roots 

 interlaced, and forming by their union a little tuit. Ordinarily 

 all these seeds reproduce the parent plant ; but sometimes one of 

 the seeds gives birth to a plant very distinct from the first, and 

 having an aspect which reminds us of cultivated wheat ; this is 

 j^gilops triticoides. This very interesting fact, ascertained by 

 Mr. Fabre, I have often verified in the vicinity of Montpellier, 

 M. Fabre took the resolution of sowing the seeds of jjEgilops 

 triticoides, and followed through twelve successive generations 

 the products furnished by the seeds originally gathered from this 

 wild grass. The plant assumed by slow degrees a taller growth, 

 the spike became larger, it ceased to be brittle at the base, its 

 glumes lost one of the two awns which distinguish ^gilops triti- 

 coides', in a word, this plant acquired, in part at least, the 

 characters of wheat. 



* See Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, vol. xv. p. 1G7 



