684 Mutations 



Leaves placed in whorls of three are very rare. 

 The oleander, juniper and some few other 

 plants have ternate whorls as a specific char- 

 acter. As an anomaly, teniate whorls are far 

 more common, and perhaps any plant with op- 

 posite leaves may from time to time produce 

 them. Races rich in this abnormality are 

 found in the wild state in the yellow loose- 

 strife or Lysimachia vulgaris, in which it is 

 a very variable specific character, the whorls 

 varying from two to four leaves. In the 

 cultivated state it is met with in the myrtle 

 or Myrtus communis, where it has come to be 

 of some importance in Israelitic ritual. Crisped 

 leaves are known in a mallow, Malva crispa, and 

 as a variety in cabbages, parsley, lettuce and 

 others. The orbicular fruits of Heeger's shep- 

 herd's purse {Capsella Heegeri) recall similar 

 fruits of other cruciferous genera, as for in- 

 stance, Camelina. Twisted stems with wide 

 spirals are specific in the case of the flow- 

 er-stalks of Cyclamen and Vallisneria, varietal 

 in Juncus effusns spiralis and accidental in 

 Scirpiis lacustris. Dormant buds or small bulbs 

 in inflorescences are normal for wild onions, 

 Polygonum viviparum and others, varietal in 

 Poa alpina vivipara and perhaps in Agave vi- 

 vipara, and accidental in plantains (Plantago 

 lanceolata), Saxifraga umbrosa and others. 



