140 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 
eee oF Prater 459. 
. Badhamia populina, n. Sporangia, x 20. 1b. Fragment of 
saigilksttane two cluster . Be spores, aa one free spore, x 280. lc. Spore, 
x 600. From Epping 
. Physarum luteo- ae, n.sp. — 2a. sar ee ‘. 20. 2b, Fragment of 
eapillitium and spore, x 280. 2e. Spore, x 600. From La Mortola, Venti- 
ichena variabilis Rost., var. pedata, n n. var. — 3a. Sporangia, x 20. 
3b. Capillitium oot to fragment of sporangium-wall and spores, x 280. 
cae an stem: 
Perichena cuaaueet Rost., var. pedata. — Sporangia, x 20. From 
Chestnet Hill Philadelphia. ‘ eater 
Wi a Arcyria ferruginea Saut. — Abnormal capillitium, x 280. From near 
iirich. 
FLORAL VARIATIONS AMONG SURREY VIOLETS. 
By Cuaryes E. Britton. 
Some few years ago, when paying especial attention to the 
peony on of the various native forms of vi olets, I was interested 
closely, were seen to be widel _ diver, rgent. These peculiar flowers 
into two groups, alth each group foreshadowed a form con- 
structed on diametrically opposed plans, each tending towards the 
formation of a flower with actinomorphie symmetry, as opposed to 
the normal irregular Eyobhiorihts blossom. 
The subject seemed of sufficient interest to ig er systematic 
investigation, and it was decided to examine ain number 
of flowers from each of the species. All were sathered | in Surrey ; 
had they been gathered elsewhere they would, no doubt, have 
yielded similar results, as I have noticed abnormal flowers on 
plants gathered in the a gitiene as es. Whilst the blooms 
were examined in order to ascertain the frequency of aberrations 
diversity of variations were surprising; on the other hand, allied 
species varied very slightly. I think some rather interesting 
deductions may be drawn from these latter results. 
The species selected es the investigation of floral aberrations 
were Viola odorata L., V. hirta L., V. a is Reichenb., V. Rivint- 
ana Reichenb., and V. er vestaretle Schrade 
o understand clearly much of What. deltas, it may be useful 
to recall briefly the chief st prin of the usual violet flower. 
First, the calyx of five sepals with an outgrowth at the base, or 
" sepals tw ie at the base,’’ as described in floras. Secondly, a 
series of five petals alternating with the members of the calyx- 
whorl. Interior to the petals is a series of five stamens, con- 
tiguous to each other and closely surrounding the ovary of three 
