MONSTROSITIES 305 



No evolutionist can doubt that an anomaly or monstrosity — 

 («) if it be viable ; (1^) if it has its reproductive organs in a sufficiently 

 fit state ; (c) if it be inherited — may lay the foundation of a new 

 species, new genus, new order. 



That anomalies and monsters are sometimes viable, that some- 

 times they have their reproductive organs in a fit state, and that 

 their features are frequently inherited — are sufficiently shown by the 

 facts quoted. 



Whether a new species or genus in its initial stage can hold its 



be grown in the vicinity, the Forget-me-not being a very popular plant. The origin of 

 this particular monstrosity is not known. What we have to note is that the whole plant 

 is pervaded by this monstrous influence, and that it is reproduced through the seed. 



There are two other varieties of monstrous Myosotis which have come under my 

 notice. That called ' The Jewel,' which was issued by Messrs. Carter and Son in 

 1893. I have only seen a picture of it. Not only is each flower ^.fiision of two flowers, 

 but the flowers are gathered into a compact head [cafitulum) somewhat like that of a 

 Scabious, or the double Corn-flower of gardeners. This additional monstrosity is declared 

 to come true from seed. 



Then in the Gardeners' Chronicle of 8th August 1891, p. 159, to which my attention 

 has been called by Professor Henslow, there is a third monstrous form of Myosotis, called 

 Victoria. It is a sort of ' hen and chicken ' form, all the chickens have flowers which are 

 fusions of two entire individuals of the typical five-petalled form, and the hen in the 

 centre appears to be a fusion of about five distinct flowers. Messrs. Ernst Benary of 

 Erfurt sent it out in 1886, and it is presumed that it sprang from M. alpestris robusta 

 grandijlora (Eliza Fonrobert). It comes true from seed. But the curious fact connected 

 with this particular form is this: It appeared in the garden of Mr. W. Marshall at 

 Bexley, who states that he did not receive seeds from either Germany or anywhere else. 

 It is hardy in severe winters. The stem is as thick as a Swan quill, compressed and hollow 

 in the interior, characters which are indicative of a fusion (fasciation) of many separate 

 stems. The drawings in the Gardeners' Chronicle are taken from a specimen exhibited 

 by Mr. Marshall, and the editor says : — ' It is reproduced from seed, and is now known 

 to have occurred during several years, and possibly may have originated spontaneously 

 in a garden at Bexley, as well as in Germany.' 



It may perhaps be questionable whether in this monstrous Myosotis the ten-petalled 

 flowers are a fusion of two separate flowers while in their embryonic stage. We know 

 that one ovum in certain animals is capable of developing twins, and possibly the ovule 

 of a plant may sometimes do so likewise. I consider the ovule as a bud, and the flower 

 as the development of a bud ; so that I can see no objection to the idea that a bud could 

 under certain circumstances develop twins parthenogenelically. This hypothesis might 

 account for the flower-bnds of this Myosotis developing mia fused twins. 



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