32 



into the Cruciferae, and that he will not take amiss the suggestion 

 to consult as conspicuous a book as the Botany of the Challenger 

 Expedition. 



TERATOLOGICAL NOTES 



By S. B. Parish 



1 . Retrogression of Pistil and Sepalody in Gentiana viridida. — 

 This is a small annual species of the Chpndropliylla group, with 

 solitary terminal flowers, inconspicuous and green in color, except 

 for the scanty blue plaits in the sinuses. They are seen in the 

 figure at the ends of the three short stems. Those which appear 

 on the two long stems have undergone a remarkable metamor- 

 phosis. The corolla has lost its form and become calyx- like, 

 with a margin merely toothed. The anthers retain their posi- 

 tion, as is shown in the detail figure, where the sepaloid corolla 

 is represented as laid open. The pistil is transformed into an 

 elongated tube, having an enlarged, bilabiate summit. 



There were a number of specimens, all showing the same mal- 

 formations. They were collected in the San Bernardino Mts., 

 by Mrs. Charlotte M. Wilder, to whom I am indebted also for 

 the accompanying drawing. 



2. Suppression of Floral Cycles in Prnnns. — In an orchard 

 there is a row of plum trees of the variety known as the " Wild 

 Goose." All of them produce regular crops, except one, which 

 has never borne a single fruit. An examination during the 

 flowering season revealed the cause of its barrenness. Normally 

 the flowers of this plum are borne on inch-long pedicels, in 

 clusters of five or six. In the case of the tree in question the 

 pedicel, the calyx, the corolla, the gynoecium, all were wanting. 



There remained only a sessile cluster of about twelve anther- 

 iferous stamens, arising directly from the bud-scales. The tree 

 was abundantly loaded with these imperfect flowers. Nursery- 

 men usually bud their stock from bearing trees, so that we prob- 

 ably have here a case of bud- variation. Naturally it would have 

 been confined to the single bud, but this happening to have been 

 taken for propagation, has produced its like in an entire tree. 



