156 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The pollen of P. cerulea (the male parent of the hybrid), and of its 
variety, P. Constance Elliot, alone exercised sufficient potency to cause 
swelling of the ovary. The maximum length of the fruit, due to fertili- 
sation by pollen of P. cerulea, was 14 in., and the largest fruit by pollen 
of P. Constance Elliot was 1,3, im. long and 4 in. at widest part, with 
walls | in. thick. These dimensions were reached in a few days, and 
they are far below what a fruit of the hybrid would attain to if fertilisation 
were complete. In no case was any indication of development of the 
ovules seen. 
Some success with the pollen of P. Buonapartea (the seed parent of 
the hybrid) might have been looked for. 
Although the pollen of M.W. itself was obviously very abnormal, it 
was thought desirable to experiment with it. Accordingly eight flowers 
received pollen from their own anthers, and seven from the anthers of 
other flowers of the same plant. As was to be expected, the result was a 
negative one in every case. 
While the failures above described are attributable for the most part 
to causes not understood, one remarkable teratological feature, which is 
Fies. 65, 66.—Ovartan Prourrication: f, Frraments ; p, Minrature Pistim 
(both figs. x 2). 
no doubt sufficient to constitute a barrier to successful fertilisation, has 
been discovered.* The ovaries of certain flowers of the hybrid, displaying 
no abnormal external features, have been found to enclose peculiar 
structures. In some there arises from the base (fig. 65, /) a group of 
minute filaments, commonly five in number, closely resembling in form 
and bright coloration the outer coronal rays. When longer than the 
cavity containing them, as they often are, the apical portions are curled 
in irregularly. In other cases a miniature pistil (fig. 66, ») occupies the 
same position, the characteristic colours being well developed. Occasion- 
ally a few minute rays are found round the miniature gynophore. 
Examples are met with in which these abnormal structures are repre- 
sented by mere rudiments. The ovules in ovaries so invaded do not seem 
to differ in any way from those in the more normal flowers. 
The earliest flowers were most prone to ovarian prolification ; indeed, 
it was almost universal at the beginning of the flowering season. In the 
latest flowers the reverse condition was equally marked. As affording 
* Vide Masters, op. cit. p. 181. 
