Heritable Pelorias. 221 



In a state of cultivation peloric races are also very rare, 

 and the common Gloxinia superba erecta with its numer- 

 ous color varieties and hybrids is the best generally 

 known cultivated example.^ 



Our present knowledge of the origin of Linaria vul- 

 garis peloria as described in the foregoing pages, justifies 

 us in attempting to form some idea concerning the origin 

 of such forms in these perfectly analogous cases and 

 also to sketch the details of this idea on a basis, or back- 

 ground of facts. 



But there are still difficulties in the way. The low 

 fertility and the incomplete constancy of the Peloria 

 distinguish it from true species.^ Most systematists 

 would evidently not consider L. vulgaris peloria to be 

 a true species unless the common L. vulgaris were ex- 

 tinct. 



Besides the examples named, there is a whole series 

 of heritable cases of peloria, which either appear as rare 

 anomalies, or are familiar cultivated races, and repeat 

 the abnormality regularly and in a fairly large number 

 of individuals every year.^ In both cases, however, the 

 development of the anomaly is, as usual, in a high degree 

 dependent on external conditions. 



There are, as we have stated in the foregoing section 



means rare in Colombia (South America) ; it was discovered there 

 by Linden in 1843 (Linden, Pescatorca, Iconographie dcs Orchi- 

 dees, i860, Plate IL 



^ The spurless varieties of certain species of Viola and Tropae- 

 olum may also be regarded as pelorias : see the following page. 



^ From this point of view it would be very important to know 

 whether the Mentha and Uropcdium cited are perfectly constant, 

 that is, never produce atavists without pelorias. 



^Tt is extrernely doubtful whether, besides these, there are 

 pelorias, the origin of which is solely due to external influences 

 and docs not need the existence of a corresponding internal poten- 

 tialitv. 



