Origin of Wild Species 585 



made from time to time with other plants by 

 different writers. Near Wageningen, in Hol- 

 land, I found Stellaria Holostea apetala in the 

 year 1889, and near Horn in Lippe (Germany) 

 Capsella Biirsa-pastoris apetala, both in a very 

 few specimens on a single spot. Whether these 

 were mutations or introductions remains of 

 course uncertain. About the same time I dis- 

 covered near Hilversum in Holland a smooth 

 variety of the evening campion, Lychnis vesper- 

 Una, forming a very small group of individuals 

 in a field, where the hairy type was common. 

 It was sown in my garden and proved pure and 

 constant, without intermediates. As the local- 

 ity had been repeatedly and carefully investi- 

 gated by me, I trust to be justified in the asser- 

 tion that I gathered the very first individuals of 

 the variety. The stock soon was overgrown by 

 surrounding shrubs and died out, and now only 

 the cultivated offspring are available, as in the 

 case of Heeger's shepherd's purse. 



A very curious instance of spontaneous muta- 

 tions is afforded by a peculiarity of some even- 

 ing-primroses and their allies. This peculiarity 

 is shown by the petals remaining minute and 

 assuming a linear shape. The character is de- 

 veloped as a specific one in Oenothera cruciata. 

 This plant owes its name to the shape of the 

 petals, which form a slender cross in the flower, 



