Taxonomic Anomalies 663 



the same genus have also been recorded to pro- 

 duce gamopetalous flowers, as for instance, 

 Papaver hybridum, by Hoffmann. Poppies are 

 not the sole example of accidental gamopetaly. 

 Linnaeus observed the same deviation long ago 

 for Saponaria officinalis, and since, it has been 

 seen in Clematis Vitalba by Jaeger, in Peltaria 

 alliacea by Schimper, in Silene annulata by Bo- 

 reau and in other instances. No doubt it is not 

 at all of rare occurrence, and the origin of the 

 present gamopetalous families is to be consid- 

 ered as nothing extraordinary. It is, as a mat- 

 ter of fact, remarkable that it has not taken 

 place in more numerous instances, and the mal- 

 lows show that such opportunities have been 

 available at least more than once. 



Other instances of taxonomic anomalies are 

 afforded by leaves. Many genera, the species of 

 which mainly bear pinnate or palmate leaves, 

 have stray types with undivided leaves. 

 Among the brambles, Rubus odoratus and 

 R. flexuosns may be cited, among the aralias, 

 Aralia crassifolia and A. papyrifera, and 

 among the jasmines, the deliciously scented 

 sambac (Jasminum Sambac). But the most 

 curious instance is that of the telegraph-plant, 

 or Desmodium gyrans, each complete leaf of 

 which consists of a large terminal leaflet and 

 two little lateral ones. These latter keep up, 



