ABNORMALITIES IN NICOTIANA‘ 
; H. Ar ALLARD 
(WITH TEN FIGURES) 
Synanthic blossoms 
Synanthy, or coalescence of blossoms, was noted in a species of 
tobacco, the seed of which was obtained from South America . 
(S.P.I. no. 33708). This collection of seed gave red, purple, and 
white-flowered plants. In leaf characters the plants appeared 
fairly uniform. Although the seed was labeled N. longiflora, it 
may be said that these plants bear no resemblance to that species. 
They resemble N. alata Link and Otto (N. affinis Moore) and 
undoubtedly belong to this species. DEVRIES? mentions the 
occurrence of fasciation in JN. alata. 
The plant which furnished the abnormal blossoms produced 
beautiful white, exceptionally large blossoms. Three of the more 
striking abnormalities exhibited different degrees of double-blossom 
structure. In one instance three blossoms were concerned in the 
coalescence.- These abnormal blossoms were distinguished by the 
following characteristics (figs. 1, 2, 3): 
ABNORMALITY NO. 1.—A union of two blossoms which affected 
only the corolla tube and calyx. Although the corolla tubes were 
joined throughout their length, they did not communicate by an 
opening at any point. In all respects each blossom retained its 
individuality, possessing the normal number of 5 petals and 5 
stamens, one pistil and ovary. In this double-blossom structure 
the corolla tubes merely adhered, so to speak, along their entire 
length. The calyx, however, showed a more intimate union, and 
appeared as one structure with 7 sepals. 
ABNORMALITY NO. 2.—In this instance there is but one corolla 
tube inclosing the stamens, pistils, and the two ovaries. This 
* Published by permission of the Secretary of Agriculture. 
? DeVries, Huco, Over de erfelijkheid der Fasciatién. Bot. Jaarboek (dodoreea) 
VII. Aug. 1894 (see pp. 94 and 115). 
175] [Botanical Gazette, vol. 65 
