THE GENUS POLIANTHES. 



605 



POLIANTHES X BlISSII. 



Analysis of parental and hybrid characters. 



There are ten characters in which the parents differ from each 

 other — in respect to which ten characters the hybrid holds an inter- 

 mediate position in six, resembles the female parent in none, and the 

 male parent in four. The ratio is 2| to 1 in favour of the male, the 

 ten characters being represented by the expression 7m + 3f. But I 

 must note that this results from examining three hybrid individuals, 

 and that the result of analysing all the seedlings of this generation 

 would probably modify the figures to some extent. The general appear- 

 ance of the plant as seen " in elevation " is also much more suggestive 

 of the female than of the male; but, however desirable from a garden 

 point of view, it is not possible to reduce the general appearance of a 

 plant to a comparable character. 



It should be noted that the bracts are very variable both in the 

 parents and in the hybrid; that the colour character is of little import- 

 ance in the hybrid, because albinism exists in the genus Bravoa. Yet 

 I attach much importance to the fact that the remarkable fragrance of 

 P. tuberosa is present, to a modified extent, in the hybrid. 



Bravoa gemini flora 

 (Female), 

 a. Flowers scentless. 



Polianthes tuberosa (garden form), 

 (Male). 



A. Very fragrant. 



B. Sub-erect. 



D. 1^ to 2| inches long. 



E. White. 



F. External surface waxy. 



G. Stout, woody. 



H. Shorter. 

 J. 2 to 3 feet lon^. 



L. Basal leaves spotted below. 

 M. More numerous (6 to 9). 



b. Perianth depending throughout. 



d. ,, f to If inches long. 



e. ,, red. 



f. ,, external surface dull. 



g. Peduncle slender, wiry. 



h. Style exserted. 

 j. Flowering stem 1 to 1^ feet 



long. 



1. Leaves unspotted, 

 m. Leaves few (5 or 6). 



Polianthes x Blissii 

 . (the hybrid) 



produced these characters in the three individuals examined: — 



L m in the first individual hybrid plant. 



Z ''A A A 2i 



AaBbEe^Gg^^^,, 



X" "2~ '2 "2 2 J ^ ^ " second 



AaBbDdEe^Gg Mm 



2 2^ 2 " 2^ ^ " 

 The last, quite accidentally, represents the mean of these three hybrids. 



Polianthes is a deciduous genus. The year before flowering, a wide 

 leafy growth is produced, but the year of flowering only a few straggling 

 narrow basal leaves from the centre of which rises the bracteate flower- 



