1887.] Mrs Griffiths on Specimens of Tulipa sylvestris. 349 
4. On Degenerated Specimens of Tulipa sylvestris. By 
Mrs A. B. Griffiths. Communicated by Dr A. B. 
Griffiths, F.B.S.E., &c. 
This note describes a peculiar yet interesting form of degenerated 
Tulipa sylvestris. Last June (1886) the tulip bulbs were removed 
(after growing and flowering in very rich soil), and set in the 
December of the same year in a soil of poor quality. The plants 
did not flower until the present June. 
These degenerated forms have the usual erect scapes found in 
the genus Tulipa ; but the inflorescence has the form of well- 
marked umbels. The flowers were small (fig. 1), and consisted of 
the usual parts of Tulipa sylvestris , namely, a 
yellow polyphyllous and inferior perianth (with 
six perianth leaves). The stamens were hex- 
androus and hypogynous ; the pistil syncarpous 
and superior; the placentation was axile, and 
the ovary divided into three cells. The unusual 
inflorescence and the peculiar shape of the petaloid 
segments of the perianth were so unlike Tulipa 
that the present investigation was undertaken as 
a point of some interest to botanists. 
The bulbs, leaves, and peduncle had developed 
. . Fig. 1.— Flower of 
the strong odour of the oil of onions or garlic, degenerated Tulip 
The essential oil was extracted by distilling the ( natural size )* 
peduncle, leaves, and bulbs separately with water. The essential 
oil was then obtained from this, distillated by repeated fractionation 
and rectification over potassium. 
This purified essential oil had a boiling point of 141° C., and 
yielded upon analysis a percentage composition similar to that of 
allyl sulphide , as is shown by the following figures : — 
Theory. Found. 
I. IL 
C 6 = 72 = 63T5% 63-24 % 63-17% 
H 10 = 10 = 8-77 „ 8-69 „ 872 „ 
III. 
63-21 % 
873 „ 
28-06 „ 
S = 32 = 28-07 
114 
