Peloria 115 
were three short stamens and two longer ones (Fig. 7), while in others 
all stamens were of practically the same length, i. e. regular. Balfour 
(Encyclopaedia Britannica IV, 1876) has stated that in some instances 
by pelorization it is found that tetradynamous plants become tetrandrous. 
In the peloric plants collected only a very few seeds were pro- 
duced. The capsules producing them were smaller than the normal 
capsules (Figs. 8, 9). In 1860 Darwin stated that “there is, I believe, 
only one case on record of a peloric flower being fertile” (1). DeVries 
in his experiments begun in 1886 hand pollinated peloric flowers of 
Linaria which produced considerable seed (6). 
Before proceeding further the definition of peloria must be modi- 
_fied. It is a kind of abnormality (but not any kind) of the corolla. 
It may be slight or pronounced, complete or incomplete. It is usually 
understood to mean a change from irregularity to regularity—desig- 
nated as a kind of reversion (as in Linaria), but it may also be just 
the reverse. In the latter case radial flowers become zygomorphic (4). 
Examples of this are seen in many Composite when corollas of the 
disk florets become strap-shaped, as in the cultivated asters, sunflowers, 
and chrysanthemums. In still another case the peloric condition arises 
from the failure of the development of regular normal parts. Normal 
columbine flowers have five spurs. Peloric columbine flowers with no 
spurs at all have been reported (4). It is also noted that the spur 
in Linaria species is sometimes obsolete (7). Peloria is connected with 
floral variation in general and it has been of specific interest in the 
problem of mutation (1, 6). 
What is the cause of such floral malformation? The cause is not 
determined. Some believe that a change in relation to light is a promi- 
nent factor, especially one-sided illumination appearing favorable for 
the development of peloria (5). DeVries in his experiments on Linaria 
sought to observe the anomaly in his pedigree cultures. The experi- 
ments were begun in 1886 with normal plants. A few peloric flowers 
were produced, which is not uncommon in this genus. The next few 
generations produced nothing more than the normal number of peloric 
flowers. In the third generation, among many thousands of flowers, 
there occurred one having five spurs. This was inbred by hand and 
produced much seed. All other seed was discarded. The next genera- 
tion contained about twenty plants having only one peloric flower among 
them. The peloric plant and one other were bred together, producing 
abundant seed. From this seed fifty plants were produced. Eleven of 
them bore the normal number of peloric flowers. One plant was found 
to bear peloric flowers only. This was, according to DeVries, a muta- 
tion, for it bred true in future generations (6). 
It seems that many plants produce a few peloric flowers occasionally 
or more or less regularly, but that individuals which are wholly peloric 
are comparatively rare. In the observations of last October more than 
a dozen individuals were noted which were wholly peloric. 
It is said that flowers far surpass all other organs in the abun- 
dance of abnormalities and monstrosities (9). Besides Linaria three 
other floral monstrosities have come to the author’s notice. One of 
these is a case of phyllody of the calyx of Delphinium belladonna, 
