May 20, 1897] 



NATURE 



67 



upon this, and has produced flowers such as shown in Fig. 7. 

 He seems to think that there is no limit to which this muhi 

 pHcation cannot be carried practically, and hopes in time to 

 produce " mop-headed " flowers like a chrysanthemum. The 

 so-called doubling of flowers, as in the rose, is a teratological 

 phenomenon, and is due to the conversion of stamens into 

 petals. But in Cyclamen this is not the case. The stamens, 

 which are normally equal in number to the corolla segments, 

 are also multiplied. Although a quinary symmetry is general 

 in the Primulacea, Trtentalis, a near ally of Cyclamen, 

 ordinarily exhibits a considerable range in the number of parts 

 of the flower. Here again Cyclamen, under artificial conditions, 

 shows a reversion to a more generalised type. 



Colour. 

 There is evidence that seminal variation as regards colours 

 occurred at least as early as 1820, but the modern forms with 

 large coloured flowers, according to Mr. Martin, originated in 

 a different way and can be traced back to the old crimson and 

 white. That preserves the crimson ring round the throat, but 

 is otherwise an albino. There is nothing remarkable in this. 

 Any species in nature may produce white flowers ; albinism is 

 in effect the commonest of all variations. "Giant white" 

 (Figs. 4 and 5) is a pure albino, in which the crimson ring has 

 been suppressed. 



P"lG. 7. 



The modern coloured forms were obtained in the first 

 instance by selecting forms in which the coloured ring showed 

 a disposition to spread into the white corolla segments. The 

 first indication would be a scarcely perceptible streak. By 

 selection from self-fertilised plants the streak was widened into 

 a stripe. Continuing the process, the stripes united, and a 

 uniformly coloured flower was obtained. 



The more striking colours, such as that of "Vulcan," which 

 is a dark crimson, were, however, obtained not by progressive 

 selection, but amongst the progeny of cross-fertilised plants. 



I learn from Messrs. Hugh Low and Co. that coloured 

 varieties, of course when self-fertilised, come true from seed. 

 This is in accordance with a well-known principle (Darwin, 

 " Cross and Self- fertilisation," p. 460). 



The Butterfly Form. 



This has been obtained independently by several horticulturist's. 

 The segments are partially spreading, and concave on their inner 

 surface. One of the most remarkable is that raised by M. de 

 Langhe-Vervaene ; it is represented in Figs. 8 and 9. He 

 informs me that " these are the products of the eleventh year of 

 improvement." He adds: "I never crossed them with any 

 other stram ; I do not like crossing races ; I prefer improving 

 them.'" He has kindly favoured me with the following detailed 

 account of the mode in which the strain has been developed and 

 improved. I quote it in his own words : — 



"Les Cyclamen Papilioque j'aiobtenus sont issus directement 

 des Cyclamen persic Jim, var. gigantetim. 



NO. I43^» VOL. 56] 



" II y a environ une douzaine d'annees je remarquais parmi 

 mes semis de Cyclamen une plante qui attira mon attention par 

 I'extreme beaute de son feuillage dentele et marbre. En 

 examinant la plante, je vis qu'elle portait ane grandequantite de 

 boutons ; ceux-ci etaient de forme plus arrondie et plus courte 

 que ne le sont generalement ceux des Cyclamen persuum. La 

 plante fut mise a part ; quand elle commen9a \ fleurir, elle 

 m'etonna par la forme bizarre de ses fleurs. Ces diverses cir- 

 Constances m'engagerent a en recolter les graines. 



-IK Fig. 8. 



" L'annee suivante j'obtins quelques jeunes plantes. Au 

 moment de leur floraison, elles purent etre compar^es k la plante 

 mere. 



" Les plus parfaites de ces plantes furent choisies pour servir 

 de porte-graine, et leurs fleurs furent fecondees entre elles. 

 L'annee suivante je fus assez heureux pour constater un nouveau 

 progres ; mes gains surpassaient leurs parents que j'avais 

 conserves. On pouvait apercevoir, dans ces semis aux caracteres 

 persistants, le point de depart d'une race nouvelle. 



Fiu. 9. 



" Je continuai dans cette voie ; au bout de quaire ans, j'etais 

 en possession de quelques sujets fort remarques. Les petales 

 des fleurs etaient amples et plus longs ; ils se redressaient 

 comme les ailes d'un papillon qui s'apprete a prendre 

 son vol. 



" La race se caracterisa chaque annee davantage. 



"Encourage par le resultat deja obtenu, je m'occupai a 

 rechercher la diversite des coloris. Apres quatre ann^es je ne 



