484 Mutations 



along and terminating in a peloric structure. 



On the branches these anomalies are more or 

 less reduced, according to the strength of the 

 branch, and conforming to the rule of perio- 

 dicity, given in our lecture on the " five-leaved " 

 clover. Through all this diminution the peloric 

 type remains unchanged, and therefore becomes 

 so much the purer, the weaker the branches on 

 which it stands. 



I am not sure whether such peloric flowers 

 have ever been purely pollinated and their seed 

 saved separately, but I have often observed 

 that the race comes pure from the seed of the 

 symmetrical flowers. It is as yet doubtful 

 whether it is a half race or a double race, and 

 whether it might be purified and strengthened 

 by artificial selection. Perhaps the determina- 

 tion of the hereditary percentage de- 

 scribed when dealing with the tricotyls might 

 give the clue to the acquisition of a higher 

 specialized race. The variety is old and widely 

 disseminated, but must be subjected to quite a 

 number of additional experiments before it can 

 be said to be sufficiently understood. 



The most widespread peloric variety is that 

 of gloxinia. It has erect instead of drooping 

 flowers; and with the changed position the 

 structure is also changed. Like other pelories 

 it has five equal stamens instead of four un- 



