Chap. XL 



MALE ELEMENT ON THE MOTHER FORM. 



403 



have reached the ovules, but even before the placentae and 

 ovules have been formed ; so that with these orchids the pollen 

 apparently acts directly on the ovarium. On the other hand, 

 we must not overrate the efficacy of pollen in this respect; 

 for in the case of hybridised plants it might be argued that 

 an embryo had been formed and had affected the surrounding 

 tissues of the mother-plant before it perished at a very early 

 Again, it is well known that with many plants the 



age. 



ovarium may be fully developed, though pollen be wholly ex- 

 cluded. And lastly, Mr. Smith, the late Curator at Kew (as 

 I hear through Dr. Hooker), observed the singular fact with 

 an orchid, the Bonatea speciosa, the development of the ovarium 

 could be effected by mechanical irritation of the stigma. Never- 

 theless, from the number of the pollen-grains expended " in the 

 satiation of the ovarium and pistil," — from the generality of the 

 formation of the ovarium and seed-coats in sterile hybridised 

 plants, — and from Dr. Hildebrand's observations on orchids, we 

 may admit that in most cases the swelling of the ovarium, and 

 the formation of the seed-coats, are at least aided, if not wholly 

 caused, by the direct action of the pollen, independently of the 

 intervention of the fertilised germ. Therefore, in the previously- 

 given cases we have only to add to our belief in the power of 

 the plant's own pollen on the development of the ovarium and 

 seed-coats, its further power, when applied to a distinct species 

 or variety, of influencing the shape, size, colour, texture, &c, of 

 these same parts. 



Turning now to the animal kingdom. If we could imagine 

 the same flower to yield seeds during successive years, then it 

 would not be very surprising that a flower of which the ovarium 

 had been modified by foreign pollen should next year produce, 

 when self-fertilised, offspring modified by the previous male in- 

 fluence. Closely analogous cases have actually occurred with 

 animals. In the case often quoted from Lord Morton, 137 a nearly 

 purely-bred, Arabian, chesnut mare bore a hybrid to a quagga ; 

 she was subsequently sent to Sir Gore Ouseley, and produced 

 two colts by a black Arabian horse. These colts were partially 

 dun-coloured, and were striped on the legs more plainly than 



™7 'Philos. Transact.,' 1821, p. 20. 



2 d 2 



