The Laws of Mutation. 255 



this variability; as is evident from the fact that they 

 are not connected with the parent type by intermediate 

 or transitional forms. 



New races can of course be evolved by repeated selec- 

 tion in one or another direction in Lamarckiana just as 

 much as in any other plant. Indeed I have, myself, 

 produced a long-fruited and a short-fruited form in this 

 way. But such races remain dependent on selection and 

 differ from their type only in one feature : they do not 

 bear the slightest resemblance to elementary species. 



Elementary species themselves exhibit fluctuating 

 variability, and often indeed to a greater extent than the 

 parent form. Nearly all their organs and characters vary, 

 but never in such a way as to approach the original form. 



VI. The imitations, to zvhich the origin of new ele- 

 mentary species is due, appear to he indefinite, that is to 

 say, the changes may affect all organs and seem to take 

 place in almost every conceivable direction. The plants 

 become stronger (gigas) or weaker (albida). with 

 broader or with smaller leaves. The flowers become 

 larger (gigas) and darker yellow (rttbrinerz'is), or 

 smaller (oblonga and scijitillans) and paler (albida). 

 The fruits become longer (rubrinervis) or shorter (gi- 

 gas, albida, lata). The epidermis becomes more uneven 

 (albida) or smoother (laevifolia) : the crumples on the 

 leaves either increase (lata) or diminish (scintillans). 

 The production of pollen is either increased (rubrinervis) 

 or diminished (scintillans) ; the seeds become larger 

 (gigas) or sm.aller (scintillans) , more plentiful (rubri- 

 nervis) or more scanty (lata). The plant becomes fe- 

 male (lata) or almost entirely male (brevistylis) ; many 

 forms which are not described here were almost entire!)' 

 sterile, some almost destitute of flowers. 



