184 



left there is another, evidently imperfect and apparently partly 

 superimposed upon the remains of a third one belonging to the 



opposite (under) side of the specimen. 



If a fourth one was present it is not 



now apparent. 



New York Botanical Garden. 



AN ABNORMAL LEAF IN 

 RUMEX 



By S. B. Parish. 



The accompanying figure repre- 

 sents an abnormal leaf of Runicx 

 hymenosepaliis, having two blades. 

 The superior blade stands more ver- 

 tically erect than the lower, it is 

 shorter and more crisped, but in other 

 respects the two are alike. Along 

 the midrib the bases of the blades 

 are separated by an interval of about 

 three millimeters. Two adjacent 

 plants were seen, each having fully 

 half of its leaves affected in this man- 

 ner, but not all to so great an extent 

 as the one figured. On some the sec- 

 ondary blade was present but as a 

 fragment, of greater or less size, or 

 two or three separated fragments. 

 These might occur at any point along 

 Abnormal leaf of /v'«- the midrib, from its base nearly to its 

 ^ °^*' apex, but always of the form and size 

 which the blade would there have 

 presented, had it been continuous. And in every case, even 

 when most fragmentary, the secondary blades were produced on 

 both sides of the midrib. 



It is possible to regard this teratological condition as an in- 

 stance of foliar peloria. But to this view there are two objections. 



Fig. 3 



mex hytnmosepalus, about 

 ural size. 



