Inconstant Varieties 251 



come latent. Especially the reversions, which in individ- 

 ual specimens of such varieties are, at times, quite com- 

 mon phenomena, betray this latent presence. 



Inconstant varieties are distinguished by a strikingly 

 high variability, by an exceedingly great range of depart- 

 ure from the norm. But here we encounter the double 

 meaning of the designation inconstancy. On the one 

 hand the word means a certain relatively great richness 

 of individual forms, on the other hand it relates to differ- 

 ences between the parents and the progeny. In choosing 

 from an inconstant variety a single individual, and sowing 

 its seed, after pure fertilization, the whole play of forms 

 of the variety can be found again in the children, hence 

 a palpable proof of the inconstancy. But, on choosing 

 several individuals, and on sowing their seeds separately, 

 each of them will produce almost the same series of forms. 

 The whole group is transmitted from year to year, and 

 does not change. The variety has a definite circle of 

 forms in which the descendants of every specimen choose 

 freely their place, but they do not go outside the circle. 

 The limits are constant, and remain so in the course of 

 generations ; within the limits, however, a motley variety 

 prevails. 



Such is the concept of plants with variegated leaves, 

 of double and striped flowers, and many other most highly 

 variable garden-plants. The new character is not based 

 here on the loss or the latency of some characteristic of 

 the species. Indeed, on the contrary, it is usually a pecu- 

 liarity which is already present in the species itself, or at 

 least in one of its races, in a latent state. Especially do 

 variegated leaves occur, not so very infrequently, on 

 otherwise green plants, and the same is. true of stamens 

 with petal-like broadenings. The relation of the incon- 



