153 



was distinguishable from pure L. speciosum. As stated before, 

 the markings of the stem were those of L. auiatum, con- 

 sequently there was no doubt of their hybrid origin. 



It is interesting to note here the variability or the dififer- 

 ence in the influence of the male parent. This same fact has 

 been observed in many other hybrids where there are many 

 seeds in a vessel, and has also been observed in plants like 

 the thistle witli many achenes in one head. 



Sachs says: "When two species, A and B hybridize, 

 and the one species A exercises a greater influence on the 

 form and properties of the hybrid than the other species B, 

 the hybrid or its descendants, if fertilized by A, will revert 

 more quickly to the parent form A than it will to the parent 

 form B if fertilized by it Thus Gaertner states that the 

 hybrid of Dianthus Chinensis and D. Caryophyllus reverts to 

 the latter form after three or four generations if repeatedly 

 fertilized by it, while it requires fertilization for five or six 

 generations by D. Chinensis in order to revert to that form." 

 A ternary hybrid is one which in- 

 mary y r s. |j;j.gj.^jy jg ^^e oftspring of 



three difierent species in this way, the hybrid 

 oS" spring of two species is united with the pollen 

 of a third species, as, for instance, the hybrids of Linaria 

 genistifolia and L. purpurea is fertilized with the pollen of L. 

 striata. The result is a ternary hybrid. Some of these 

 hybrids are not uncommon, for instance it is said that 

 Wichura produced a compound hybrid in which six different 

 willows entered. 



Prepotency. It has been shown by numerous observeers 

 that when two races are crossed or the product a hybrid be- 

 tween two distinct species the result is a blending of the 

 characters of both. It has even been asserted by some in- 



