MUTATIONS, VARIATIONS, AND RELATIONSHIPS OF THE OENOTHERAS. 5 



As a result of the continued inspection of the culture it was seen to include 

 3 of nanella, 2 of lata, 6 of albida, and 3 of oblonga, while the remainder could 

 not be identified. One was purely pollinated to test its relationship with 

 gigas. The coefficient of mutability in this culture was seen to be barely 3 

 per cent, and the proportion of oblonga was much lower than in any other 

 culture. 



D. i. 9. A lot of purely fertilized seeds designated as above, harvested in 

 the New York Botanical Garden in August, 1904, was sown in two earthen- 

 ware pans filled with sterilized soil, early in November, 1904; 604 plantlets 

 were produced ; 390 duplicates of the parental type were discarded on Decem- 

 ber 4th, 1904, and 66 on December 15th; 77 were transplanted for further 

 inspection on December 2ist, and the remaining 71 on January i5th, 1905; of 

 these, 59 were discarded on February 9th, 33 on February i8th, 15 on March 3d, 

 3 on March 2ist, 5 on March 24th, and 4 on March 3oth; 19 mutant individuals 

 were transplanted to the experimental garden on May i6th, 1905, of which 

 i was nanella, 2 were lata, 2 scintillans, i albida, and 2 oblonga, and the 

 remainder were of types not identified by the authors. 



The coefficient of mutability in this instance is seen to be about 3 per cent, 

 and that of oblonga very small in comparison with the general frequency of 

 this derivative. 



IDENTITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF OENOTHERA LAMARCKIANA. 

 Since the cultures of the evening-primroses was begun, a few years since, 

 no opportunity has been neglected to attempt to trace O. lamarckiana to its 

 original habitat and to establish its relationship to other species of the genus. 

 Among numerous bibliographical discussions of interest in this connection, 

 one by Miller (1760) is of great interest. He says regarding the "Tree Prim- 

 rose with oval spear-shaped indented Leaves, and Flowers proceeding from 

 the wings of the Leaves on the Upper Part of the Stalk:" 



This plant is also a Native of North America; but was the first species of the Genus which 

 was brought to Europe, so it is more commonly seen in the Gardens than any of the other 

 species. In some parts of Europe, this is spread about from the Gardens in such plenty, 

 that it might be supposed a native there. In a small wood near Haarlem in Holland, this 

 plant covered the ground insomuch that many skilful persons supposed it was a native of 

 that place. But it may be easily accounted for, because the gardeners who live near that 

 place are chiefly florists, and they annually change the earth of the beds in their gardens; 

 so by carrying out of their old earth from their beds, in which many of the seeds were 

 scattered, the plants came up there; and those being suffered to scatter their seeds, had 

 filled the whole wood with the plants. 



This differs from the first sort (described and figured as 0. biennis) in having broader 

 leaves; the stalk grows taller, and the flowers are much larger. Both these sorts will thrive 

 in the Smoak of London better than most plants. 



The appended descriptions and the plate (No. 189, dated 1757) very fit- 

 tingly characterize O. biennis and 0. lamarckiana, and as the descriptions were 



