ASTYLIS PHLOX 



The Relation of This Variation of Phlox Drummondii to the Large- 

 Eyed Flower' 



James P. Kelly 

 Penn. State College, State College, Penn. 



SMALL-EYED PHLOX 



Figure i. Pure strains of small-eyed phlox are easily produced by the breeder, but 

 this is not possible with orbicularis, for a study of its genetic constitution proves it to 

 be of hybrid origin. Three types of plants, having orbicularis, astylis, or small-eyed 

 flowers, are produced by self-fertilized orbicularis seed, but the cross between astylis and 

 small-eye produces only obicularis plants. 



IN 1920 there appeared in some cul- 

 tures of Drummond's phlox grown 

 from German seed a striking and 

 unexpected type of flower. It 

 cropped out in two individuals of a 

 variety supposed to have only normal 

 pink flowers with a small white center, 

 or eye. The new type of flower was 

 exceptionally small, entirely white, and 

 with ruffled or wavy corolla lobes of 

 relatively great width. Closer examina- 

 tion revealed that while pollen was 

 present in normal abundance the style 

 was totally lacking, hence the name 



astylis bestowed on this variation. ( See 

 Frontispiece). Repeated hand pollina- 

 tions were tried on the astylis individ- 

 uals but not a single seed vs^as formed, 

 and experience of subsequent seasons 

 with other astylis plants has confirmed 

 the fact of sterility as far as the ovary 

 is concerned. Fortunately, astylis pollen 

 is viable and some crossings in which 

 it was used proved successful. 



At the time that the astylis plants 

 were discovered the writer had under 

 observation two plants of the orbicu- 

 laris type of Phlox dntiiinioiidii. (See 



^ Contribution No. 40 of the Botany Dept., Pennsylvania State College. 



339 



