138 



Controversial Questions. 



This species is said to be highly variable; but all that 

 is meant by this is that it is very rich in subspecies. One 

 of these is distinguished by the conversion of the inner 

 stamens into carpels. It is cultivated in many of our 

 gardens under the name of P. s. monstruosiwi or P. s. 

 polycephalum (Fig. 27). It is, according to my obser- 

 vations always true to its type but is highly variable 

 (Fig. 28). The number of supernumerary carpels may 

 reach 1 50 or more ; or they may be reduced to mere rudi- 

 ments : though, so far as my experience goes, they are 

 never entirely lacking. 



Fig. 27. Papaver sommferum polycephalum s. mon- 

 sfrosiun, with a whole wreath of supplementary 

 carpels. From above and from the side. 



The variability of the character in question is almost 

 entirely dependent on the conditions of life. From the 

 seeds of fruits with a beautiful circlet of carpels we can 

 raise a good harvest of such; or a bad one, just as we 

 please. The more favorable the conditions the more 

 numerous the supernumerary carpels. 



It is evident that it is impossible to make the condi- 

 tions for each plant in a bed exactly similar, for when the 

 seed first begins to germinate there are dififerences in 

 illumination, humidity, supply of nutriment, etc., whose 

 influences tend, as growth proceeds, not to level up the 

 differences, but, on the contrary, to accentuate them. In 



