114 Transformation of u^gilops into Wheat. 



this plant is now in the eyes of the latter a real species, how can 

 he regard x^gilops triticoides, much better characterised, as a 

 simple malformation of ^(/ilops ovata — an opinion which M. 

 Jordan himself, in 1853, held to be " an enormous absurdity" ? 

 We have to do here with plants of the same genus, in which the 

 characters drawn from the glume and its awns ought to have 

 equal value as specific characters ; but if M. Jordan refused to 

 admit that differences so decided and so easy to appreciate, which 

 separate the two species of ^gilops, are insufficient to distinguish 

 them, what is to be said of some of the other species which M. 

 Jordan has established in characters appreciable by him, but 

 which escape all other observers?* Now since M. Jordan at 

 present considers as scarcely a variety the ^gilops triticoides, 

 which was recognized before M. Fabre's discovery as a well- 

 characterized specific type, by botanists most scrupulous in 

 respect to the vegetable species, it follows necessarily that the 

 indefatigable botanist of Lyons (M. Jordan), not only completely 

 invalidates a great number of species which he has published, 

 but, beyond this, he recognizes implicitly the variability of 

 species, even wild ones. 



But admitting for a moment that j^gihps triticoides is merely 

 an accidental malformation of j^r/ilops ovata, how will M. 

 Jordan explain the fact, which he affirms in a positive manner, 

 that j^fjilups triticoides sometimes grows in places where j^gi- 

 lops ovata is not met with ? This last plant would, in such case, 

 be deformed even in localities where it does not exist. It is his 

 business to reconcile with his new opinions this fact, which lie 

 was the first to make known, and which, so far as we know, has 

 not been re-observed by anyone else. 



Is this supposed transformation oi u^gilops ovata into jEgilops 

 triticoides the result of the sterility of the latter plant ? 



In the first place, is yT^gi/ops triticoides always sterile ? In 

 supposing this absolute sterility, M. Jordan takes his stand upon 

 negative facts sufificiently vague. But it would be important to 

 know if the attempts made in the gardens of Avignon and Mont- 

 pellier to reproduce the seeds have been frequently renewed, 

 and at what epoch of the year the sowings took place ; for, as is 

 well known, the y^gilops of the South of France begins to ger- 

 minate in autumn. M. Jordan relies upon the testimony of M. 

 Touchy, which I do not question: indeed 1 rely'upon it also myself. 

 In 1852, I received from M. Touchy two specimens of JEgilops 

 triticoides, and I find on the label the following indication: — 

 " Appeared in a field of millet, in 1848, and has been propa- 



* In thus expressing ourselves we have no intention of proscribing in mass all 

 the new species published by M. Jordan. We admit that he has created some very 

 safe ones ; but of others we are not convinced of their legitimacy. 



