148 



BRADLEY MOORE DAVIS 



5. Capsules. The capsules. about 3 cm. long, are longer and not so stout as those 

 of Lamarckiana. 



The plant grown by Dr. Gray differed from the Lamarckiana of 

 the cultures of De Xvies in the longer internodes of the inflores- 

 cence, in the larger more leaf-like bracts, in the form of the buds, 

 in the much attenuated sepal tips, and in the longer seed cap- 

 sules. There would be Httle profit in discussing at present 

 whether or not this plant was truly representative of the cul- 

 tures of Carter and Company and whether or not their plants 

 became greatly modified during the quarter century before the 

 time when De Vries began his studies at about 1886, and isolated 

 the form we know today as 0. Lamarckiana De Vries. 



T\Tiat we desire is information on all of the tall Oenotheras of 

 the south and west that have large flowers (petals 3 to 4 cm. long) 

 and broad leaves. We wish to know whether any of them resem- 

 ble the Lamarckiana of De Vries' s cultures. We wish to know 

 whether any of them resemble the specimens of the plant grown 

 by Dr. Gray. One species of the south, Oenothera grandiflora, 

 from Alabama is fairly well understood; does this species grow 

 in Texas? In California and Arizona are forms usually desig- 

 nated 0. Hookeri; do any of these grow in Texas? 



A few words to the field botanist will not be out of place. For 

 this problem the mere observation or collection of an herbarium 

 specimen without seeds is worse than useless. We can have no 

 certainty as to the characters of an indi\'idual plant unless its 

 seeds have been grown in large cultures; it may be a chance hybrid. 

 Preferably flowers should be hand pollinated and then protected 

 by paper bags until withered. \\'Tien this is not possible ripe 

 capsules should be gathered always from the same plant upon 

 which observations are made. 



A recent experience of the writer will illustrate the reason for 

 the cautions expressed above. In January, 1912, Mr. H. H. 

 Bartlett sent me seeds of an Oenothera which he had in cultivation 

 and which seemed to be very close to Lamarckiana De Vries, if not 

 identical with it. His cultures came from seeds of a plant which 

 grew near Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz County, California and was 

 collected by Prof. C. P. Smith (No. 2320). Prof. Smith had 



