A BRANCHED EAR OF MAIZE— AN INHERITED ABNORMALITY 



Many of the abnormalities thus far reported in Indian corn are inherited in a 

 simple Mendelian manner, but this is partly because the cases of simpler inheritance 

 have been studied first, and the more complicated problems deferred. The mhent- 

 ance of this form of branched ears is not according to the usual Mendelian system. 

 Mendelian ratios were not obtained and it was not possible to isolate a uniform 

 branch-eared strain, or even to approach that condition. Continued self-polhnation 

 does not appear to increase the number of such plants, which are produced at a 

 rate of about five normal plants to one bearing branched ears. The ear from which 

 this strain originated came from a variety of maize grown by the Pawnee Indians. 

 (Frontispiece.) 



