OUTLINES OF BOTANY. 
XXXV 
Capsules which, while growing, lie close upon the ground, will often become larger, 
more succulent, and less readily dehiscent, than those which are not so exposed to the 
moisture of the soil. 
Herbs eaten down by sheep or cattle, or crushed underfoot, or otherwise checked in 
their growth, or trees or shrubs cut down to the ground, if then exposed to favourable 
circumstances of soil and climate, will send up luxuriant side-shoots, often so different 
in the form of their leaves, in their ramification and inflorescence, as to be scarcely re- 
cognizable for the same species. 
Annuals which have germinated in spring, and flowered without check, will often be 
very different in aspect from individuals of the same species, which, having germinated 
later, are stopped by summer droughts or the approach of winter, and only flower the 
following season upon a second growth. The latter have often been mistaken for per- 
ennials. 
Hybrids, or crosses between two distinct species, come under the same category of 
anomalous specimens from a known cause. Frequent as they are in gardens, where 
they are artificially produced, they are probably rare in nature, although on this sub- 
ject there is much diversity of opinion, some believing them to be very frequent, others 
almost denying their existence. Absolute proof of the origin of a plant found wild, is 
of course impossible ; but it is pretty generally agreed that the following particulars 
must always co-exist in a wild hybrid. It partakes of the characters of its two parents ; 
it is to be found isolated, or almost isolated, in places where the two parents are abun- 
dant ; if there are two or three, they will generally be dissimilar from each other, one 
partaking more of one parent, another of the other ; it seldom ripens good seed ; it will 
never be found where one of the parents grows alone. 
Where two supposed species grow together, intermixed with numerous intermediates 
bearing good seed, and passing more or less gradually from the one to the other, it 
may generally be concluded that the whole are mere varieties of one species. The be- 
ginner, however, must be very cautious not to set down a specimen as intermediate 
between two species, because it appears to be so in some, even the most striking cha- 
racters, such as stature and foliage. Extreme varieties of one species are connected 
together by transitions in all their characters, but these transitions are not all observa- 
ble in the same specimens. The observation of a single intermediate is therefore of 
little value, unless it he one link in a long series of intermediate forms, and, when met 
with, should lead to the search for the other connecting links. 
2. Accidental aberrations from the ordinary type, that is, those of which the cause 
is unknown. 
These require the more attention, as they may sometimes lead the beginner far astray 
in his search for the genus, whilst the aberrations above-mentioned as reducible more or 
less to general laws, affect chiefly the distinction of species. 
Almost all species with coloured flowers are liable to occur occasionally with them 
all white. 
Many may be found even in a wild state with double flowers, that is, with a multi- 
plication of petals. 
Plants which have usually conspicuous petals will occasionally appear without any 
at all, either to the flowers produced at particular seasons, or to all the flowers of in- 
dividual plants, or the petals may be reduced to narrow slips. 
Flowers usually very irregular, may, on certain individuals, lose more or less of their 
irregularity, or appear in some very different shitpe. Spurs, for instance, may disap- 
pear, or be produced on all instead of one only of the petals. 
One part may be occasionally added to, or subtracted from, the usual number of 
parts in each floral whorl, more especially in regular polypetalous flowers. 
Plants usually monoecious or dioecious may become occasionally hermaphrodite, or 
hermaphrodite plants may produce occasionally unisexual flowers by the abortion of 
the stamens or of the pistils. 
Leaves cut or divided where they are usually entire, variegated or spotted where they 
are usually of one colour, or the reverse, must also be classed amongst those accidental 
aberrations which the botanist must always be on his guard against mistaking for 
specific distinctions. 
