BOTANICAL SUBJECTS. 



71 



It is evident that, once a fusion of two or more capitula has 

 occurred, producing an elongated capitulum, by degrees and 

 through subsequent generations, it can be changed into a perfect 

 daisy -like larger capitulum. That is, out of a monstrous head, a 

 regular and circularly symmetrical head of florets can, by degrees, 

 and through many generations, be produced. 



Several other composites are liable to fusion. When one 

 begins to search for traces of fusion of whole flowers, or of other 

 parts of plants, one begins to find them in abundance, as factors of 

 modification. 



Fig. 7 shows a fusion of the pale yellow Marguerite of the 

 shops; and Fig. 8 shows a more complicated fusion of three 



Fig. 7. Fusion of two heads of pale yellow Marguerite. 



capitula. The seedings of this, if any of them inherited this fused 

 form, would naturally take many more generations to right them- 

 selves, that is, to become circular. Each fusion would add size to 

 the combined head. 



I have noticed signs of fusion in another composite — Hieraceum 

 Aurantiacum. 



