Chap. IV. LYTHEUM SALICAEIA. 163 



sets of longest stamens, we shall find exactly the same 

 result, viz. that the pollen from the longest stamens of 

 the mid-styled form yielded during both years fewer 

 seeds than that from the longest stamens of the 

 short-styled form. Hence it is certain that the two 

 kinds of pollen produced by the mid-styled form are 

 less potent than the two similar kinds of pollen pro- 

 duced by the corresponding stamens of the other two 

 forms. 



In close coimection with the lesser potency of the 

 two kinds of pollen of the mid-styled form is the fact 

 that, according to H. Miiller, the grains of both are 

 a little less in diameter than the corresponding grains 

 produced by the other two forms. Thus the grains 

 from the longest stamens of the mid-styled form are 

 9 to 10, whilst those from the corresponding stamens 

 of the short-styled form are 9J to 10^ in diameter. 

 So, again, the grains from the shortest stamens of the 

 mid-styled are 6, whilst those from the corresponding 

 stamens of the long-styled are 6 to 6^ in diameter. 

 It would thus appear as if the male organs of the 

 mid-styled form, though not as yet rudimentary, were 

 tending in this direction. On the other hand, the 

 female organs of this form are in an eminently efficient 

 state, for the naturally fertilised capsules yielded a 

 considerably larger average number of seeds than 

 those of the other two forms — almost every flower 

 which was artificially fertilised in a legitimate manner 

 produced a capsule — and most of the illegitimate 

 unions were highly productive. The mid-styled form 

 thus appears to be highly feminine in nature ; and al- 

 though, as just remarked, it is impossible to consider 

 its two well-developed sets of stamens which produce 

 an abundance of pollen as being in a rudimentary 

 condition, yet we can hardly avoid connecting as 



M 2 



