THE PERUVIAN BARK FAMILY. 237 



one of the parents of a very distinct and beautiful race, espe- 

 cially if intercrossed with L. coronata alba, a variety with milk- 

 white flowers. Beautiful hybrids have been already obtained. 

 Thus L. Haageana is the offspring of L. fulgens fertilised with 

 pollen from Z. Siebold.ii. In 1843 M. Pepin recorded the pro- 

 duction of a hybrid between L. (Agrostemma) flos-jovis and L. 

 (Agrostemmd} coronaria; and this is described (see 'Annales de 

 Flore et du Pomone,' 1843) as a very handsome plant, with 

 large and brilliantly-coloured flowers, the plant being interme- 

 diate in habit. 



Much fallacy has arisen with regard to the supposed frequency 

 of the union of different genera of the same family, in conse- 

 quence of concluding that union had taken place because ap- 

 parently perfect seeds had been produced, without waiting to 

 examine whether they were really fertile, and in case of their 

 germination, observing the produce. Gaertner had been led 

 into error in this respect during the earlier part of his studies ; 

 and a long series of experiments, undertaken in consequence 

 of the discovery of his error, produced but a single successful 

 result namely, the union of Lychnis diurna with Cucubahis 

 viscosus. He had, however, during the course of other experi- 

 ments, effected a union between Lychnis diurna $ and Silene 

 noctiflora g , as also with Agrostemma coronaria. The union of 

 Lychnis vespertina with Cncubalus viscosus $ is much more 

 difficult than that of Lychnis diurna $ , and the hybrid type 

 is entirely different, which gives the clearest proof of the really 

 specific difference between the two. In the case of Lychnis 

 and Agrostemma, though seeds were formed containing appa- 

 rently perfect embryos, not a single one germinated, showing 

 some weakness of constitution in the result of the union, of 

 which many instances occur in these researches. Union had 

 certainly taken place ; for had the seeds been due to the access 

 of homogeneous pollen, there could be no reason why they 

 should not have germinated, assuming them to be perfectly 

 developed. 



THE PERUVIAN BARK FAMILY (Cinchonacece}. 



A large order of ornamental, economic, and medicinal 

 plants, principally natives of the tropics. In northern coun- 

 tries some of the stellate-leaved species are found ; the most 

 southern example of the family being the pretty little red- 

 berried Nertera depressa, found in the Strait of Magellan. 

 Coffee (Cqffea arabica) and the different species of Cinchona 

 or Peruvian Bark, from which quinine is extracted, are perhaps 



