The Cultural Evolution of Cyclamen latifolium. 137 



a white- flowered form " is found in Palestine -which is very 

 fragrant."* 



Early in the century some colour variations were in cultivation. 

 Several as well as the typical G. joersicum were figured in the ' Flore 

 des Serres ' in 1877 (t. 2345). These record the amount of change 

 from the wild type which had been accomplished in a century and a 

 half. One striking seminal sport (C. persicum, var. laciniatuw) is 

 figured in the ' Botanical Register ' in 1827 (t. 1095). It is remark- 

 able for spreading corolla-segments broader than usual, and cut at 

 the edges. It does not appear to have been perpetuated, but in some 

 degree it anticipated some of the remarkable modern developments. 



I am informed by Mr. James Martin, the accomplished propagator 

 of Messrs. Sutton, that the recent remarkable development of the 

 cyclamen began about 1860, and, at any rate in their hands, started 

 with the old " crimson and white." It will be seen from the accom- 

 panying figures how little this differs from the wild type. Fig. 1 



Fig. 1. 



represents a flower of the latter from a plant imported by Messrs. 

 Sutton from Syria after six. years of cultivation. It is not appre- 

 ciably altered. Fig. 2 represents a flower of their " crimson and 

 white ; " it only differs from the wild type in having shorter, broader r 

 and less twisted corolla segments. 



In considering the. progress which has been made since 1860 

 under the skilful hands of Mr. Martin and others, it is important 

 to bear in mind that there is no question of hybrid ity. Cyclamen 

 latifolium has resisted every attempt to cross it with any other 

 species. We are dealing then with the evolution under artificial 



* ' Eoy. Hort. Soc. Jouvn..' IS". S., vol. 13, p. 163. 



