Observations upon some Noteworthy Leaf Variations. 281 



In the grounds of McGill University, there are a num- 

 ber of ornamental shrubs which were planted out about 1895. 

 Among these is a clump of tartarian honeysuckle (Lonicera 

 tartarica) raised from seed at the Botanic Garden. The 

 clump embraces about ten bushes. Until this year they have 

 presented nothing of an unusual character in their growth. 

 In the spring of 1903 they were top-pruned, but there was not 

 much thinning out. As a result the bushes are now filled 

 with numerous wiry branches which, together with larger and 

 more normal shoots (Fig, id), bear typical or nearly typical 

 leaves of an oblong or oval form, with a rounded and some- 

 times cordate base, and an acuminate apex (Fig. 2, 1-7 and 

 Fig. 5, 2-4). According to the description in Gray's Field, 

 Forest & Garden Botany, the leaves should be oval with a 

 cordate base, but this does not apply typically to the shrubs 

 in question, nor does it apply to those I have been familiar with 

 in cultivation. The general form in the present instance, is 

 typified by the series in figure 2. All the shrubs in question 

 show a vigorous growth with the exception of two. As a pro- 

 duct of the seasons growth they have extended to a height of 

 about 3 m., this being determined by the development of shoots 

 of unusual vigor and great length. In individual cases these 

 shoots are upwards of 1.5 m. long with a diameter of 1.3 cm. 

 at the base. The fact that some of these shoots originated 

 from buds just below the excision of older branches, seems to 

 suggest that they received an unusual amount of stimulus 

 from the previous pruning. In all such cases, the foliage of 

 such shoots was of unusual size, and it deviated more or less 

 strongly from the type, so much so as to establish a feature 

 which, at a distance of one or two hundred feet, could be 

 easily recognized in contrast with the ordinary foliage. 



The two shrubs already referred to as forming an excep- 

 tion to the general vigor of growth, were about 1.5 m in 

 general height, and thus about one-half the stature of the 

 others. One of the these, situated on the southerly side of 

 the clump, exhibited in part, probably to the extent of 

 30-40%, a remarkable reduction in size and alteration in 

 form of the individual leaf. The second bush is on the 



