Latent Characters 227 



distinctive character. In the other this charac- 

 ter is simply reduced to an inactive or dormant 

 state. The fact of its recurrence from time to 

 time, accompanied by secondary characters 

 previously exhibited, is a manifest proof of the 

 existence of some relation between the lost and 

 the resumed peculiarity. Evidently this rela- 

 tion cannot be accounted for on the assump- 

 tion of an absolute disappearance; something 

 must remain from which the old features may 

 be restored. 



This lengthy discussion may be closed by the 

 citation of the cases, in which plants not only 

 show developmental features of a former state, 

 but also reproduce the special features they 

 formerly had, but seemingly have lost. Two 

 good illustrative examples may be given. One 

 is afforded by the wheat-ear carnation, the 

 other by the greBn dahlias, and both have oc- 

 curred of late in my own cultures. 



A very curious anomaly may from time to 

 time be observed in large beds of carnations. 

 It bears no flowers, but instead of them small 

 green ears, which recall the ears of wheat. 

 Thence the name of *^ Wheat-ear " carnation. 

 On closer inspection it is easily seen how they 

 originate. The normal flowers of the carna- 

 tions are preceded by a small group of bracts, 



