THE STRUCTURE OF CERTAIN NEW HYBRIDS. VFI 
The number of flowers in the inflorescence of the Black Currant may 
occasionally be as high as thirteen, but a very common number is either 
seven or eight. In the Gooseberry two is the maximum, and very often 
there is only one. In my hybrids the inflorescence most commonly bears 
three flowers pretty close together. The length of the inflorescence is 1 to 
1} in., or at most 15 in. Very often there are four flowers, three of which 
are grouped together terminally, and the fourth borne on a rather long 
pedicel which arises from the very base of the inflorescence. This basal 
flower is often later in opening than one or more of the others. Occasion- 
ally there are two or even three flowers borne on a common rachis, in 
place of one basal flower. The greatest number of flowers hitherto 
observed on any spur is thus five or six; but the usual number, as 
already mentioned, is either three or four. The peculiar position of the 
basal flower and the retardation of its opening are features frequently 
exemplified in the Black Currant and inherited from it. 
The hybrids are decidedly later than the Gooseberries in commencing 
to flower, and are in full blossom when the latter have almost passed out 
of flower and are bearing fruit of considerable size. On the other hand, 
while one or two of the hybrid flowers may be open before any of the 
Black Currant ones, they may be regarded as contemporaneous with 
them. 
In the Black Currant flower the bright yellow scent-secreting glands 
are very characteristic structures. ‘They number from fifty to eighty, or 
even more, and are scattered irregularly over the surface of the ovary 
and the calycine cup as well. They are quite sessile (fig. 83), and very 
often placed at the bottom of a shallow depression. Their diameter is very 
uniform, being ‘15mm. to‘17mm. A number of smaller ones, however, 
may be found. Their structure has been described by several botanists. 
The gland is multicellular, and the cuticle is commonly found raised by 
the yellow secretion which accumulates beneath it. 
In the Gooseberry we find greater diversity in respect of gland- 
bearing in the flower. In some varieties the ovary is tomentose and 
thickly studded with long-stalked red glands (fig. 85). In others, the 
numerous glands are colourless, or almost colourless. Further, varieties 
are met with in which the ovary is densely clothed with soft white hairs, 
amongst which occur a few irregularly scattered long-stalked red glands ; 
while others, still tomentose, are absolutely destitute of glands. Finally, 
glands may be quite absent, and the ovary be almost or altogether 
destitute of hairs as well. When hairs are present they also clothe, but 
less densely, the calycine cup. Glands, however, never occur on the cup. 
The glands may have a diameter of ‘1 mm., and the stalks attain the length 
of 1°2mm. The red colour often extends some distance down the stalk. 
In the ‘ Whitesmith ’ Gooseberry, the pollen parent of Mr. Culverwell’s 
hybrids, the ovary (in the specimens examined by me) was tomentose, 
with a few red glands borne on long stalks. They numbered from four 
or five to twenty-four, at most, in the plant studied. The stalk was 
usually 1 mm. in length, and the red colour of the glands extended a 
little distance downwards. The average diameter of the glands was 
‘14 mm., the largest being 16mm. The stigma stood only a little above 
the anthers, and the pollen was very good. 
