Ciur. V. 



rASSIFLOKA GEAOILIS. 



171 



only two pairs, the results are given together. On both occasions 

 the crossed capsules contained slightly more seeds than the self- 

 fertilised. During the first year, when the plants were about 

 7 inches in height, the self-fertilised were the tallest, and in the 

 eecond year the crossed were the tallest. When the two lots were 

 in fall flower they were measured, as in the preceding table. 



The average height of the eight crossed plants was 21*62, and 

 that of the eight self-fertilised 26 " 31 inches ; or as 100 to 107. So 

 that the self-fertilised had a decided advantage oyer the crossed. 

 Dut the plants from some cause never grew well, and finally be- 

 came so unhealthy that only three crossed and three self-fertilised 

 plants survived to set any capsules, and these were few in number. 

 The two lots seemed to be about equally unproductive. 



XVII. PASSIFLOEACEiE. Passiflora gracilis. 



This annual species produces spontaneously numerous fruits 

 When insects are excluded, and behaves in this respect very 

 differently from most of the other species in the genus, which 

 are extremely sterile unless fertilised with pollen from a distinct 

 plant.* Fourteen fruits from crossed flowers contained on an 

 average 24*14 seeds. Fourteen fruits (two poor ones being 

 rejected), spontaneously self-fertilised under a net, contained on 

 an average 20 58 seeds per fruit ; or as 100 to 85. These seeds 

 were sown on the opposite sides of three pots, but only two pairs 

 came up at the same time ; and therefore a fair judgment cannot 

 be formed. 



Table LXIV. 

 Passijiora gracilis. 



The mean of the two crossed is 49 inches, and that of the two 

 self-fertilised 51 inches ; or as 100 to 104. 



* Variation of Animals and chap. xvii. 2nd edit. vol. ii. p, 

 Plants under Domestication ' "18. 



