INFERTILE HYBRIDS, 201 
although destitute of chlorophyll, were as large as those of the normal 
flowers. ‘I'he petals were normal in size, shape, and colour. The pollen 
appeared to be perfect. The pistil was of the ordinary size and shape, but 
the ovary was colourless, not light green. The stigma was bright red as 
usual. 
A few experiments were tried to induce the flowers of the albino shoot 
to set fruit, but without success. When, however, the pollen of the 
albino flowers was used to fertilise the flowers of the green shoot, the 
results were very successful. 
Four fruits were thus secured. They contained respectively 2, 4, 5, 5 
good-looking seeds. Seeing that 5 is the full yield, it was evident that 
the pollen used must have been good. Record kept of seven seedlings 
derived from the above 16 seeds shows that two of them had plain 
green leaves, one faintly zoned, and three distinctly zoned. The seventh 
seedling appeared late; it was slightly variegated, and very dwarf and 
weak. The later history of the seedlings was not noted. 
Centaurea ragusina (candidissima) x C. Scabiosa. 
‘ Passing reference was made at the Conference in 1899 to a hybrid 
Centaurea, the parentage being C. ragusina and C. Scabiosa. Since that 
Fia. 43.—CENTAUREA RAGUSINA x C. SCABIOSA. 
event the hybrid has developed its adult characteristics. It is a very 
strong-growing, hardy, herbaceous perennial, forming large tufts. It 
resembles in many ways its pollen-parent, C. Scabiosa, which with us 
occurs as a fine sturdy native, making its home amongst the sand-dunes of 
the seashore. 
