Observations on Variations in the Flowers of 
Stachys sylvatica, Linn. 
BY 
E. M. CUTTING, M.A., F.L.S., 
Assistant , University College , University of London . 
With five Figures in the Text. 
F OR some years the writer has observed, in the Hedge Woundwort, 
the presence of flowers varying, more or less markedly, from the 
normal. At first notes and sketches only were made of typical variants 
and also of the more striking ones ; but in 1919, for a short time, in the 
early autumn, a preliminary statistical study of these forms was begun. 
It should be stated that the variations recorded have been found on sandy, 
chalky, and loamy soils, in different localities (e. g. at Haslemere in Surrey, 
Shoreham in Kent, and in the neighbourhood of High Wycombe in 
Buckinghamshire) and at different times of the year, namely, from June 
to October. The observations so far made, however, do not enable one to 
judge how far the soil and the time of year influence either the percentage 
or the nature of the variations. 
Table I. Series A. 
I. f. 
K. 
8 
C. 
2 + 3 
A. 
6 
G. 
2. f. 
5 
3 + 3 
5 
2 
3 - f- 
5 
3 + 3 
5 
3 
4 - 
5 
2 + 3 
5 
3 
5 - 
5 
2 + 3 
4 
2 
6 . 
5 
i +3 
5 
2 
7 * 
4 
2 + 3 
5 
3 
8 . 
5 
2 + 3 
5 
2 
9 - 
5 
2 + 3 
4 
2 
10. 
5 
2 + 3 
5 
2 
11. 
5 
2 + 3 
4 
2 
f. 
= fusion. 
M.F. 
= mi 
Haslemere. August , 1916. 
N. Remarks. Fig. 1. 
10 M.F. d 
M.F., 1 N.F. on each side a 
... M.F., 1 N.F. on each side e 
4 M.F. 
5 M.F. 
I M.F. 
"4 M.F. 
flower. N.F. = normal flower. 
The first series (see Table I) that, was observed was collected at 
Haslemere in August, 1916. The tendencies here shown were towards an 
increased number of parts leading up to cases of fasciation (Fig. \,a,d, and 
e). A large number of flowers were found in which the upper lip of the 
corolla was larger and wider than usual and a smaller number in which it 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. XXXV. No. CXXXIX. July, 1921.] 
