A striking variation in Silene noctiflora 
E. P. HUMBERT 
' 
(WITH TWO TEXT FIGURES) 
From some Silene noctiflora seeds planted in the greenhouse 
December 1, 1917, one very interesting plant has developed. The 
normal Silene noctiflora seedling has two seed-leaves and suc- 
ceeding leaves are in whorls of two, or opposite, each pair being 
placed over the intervals between the preceding pair. The pairs 
cross at right angles or decussate. This is illustrated in Fic. 1, 
a reproduction of a normal seedling. The plant which is the 
FIG. I. Fic. 2. 
Fic. 1. Normal Silene noctiflora seedling with two seed-leaves and two leaves. 
in each succeeding whorl, X 2. 
Fic. 2. Silene noctiflora seedling with three seed-leaves and three leaves in each 
of the two succeeding whorls, X 2. 
occasion of this sketch produced three seed-leaves and the suc- 
ceeding leaves were arranged in whorls of three, each leaf of the 
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