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Variation in Anemone apennina, L., and Clematis 
vitalba, L., with Special Reference to Trimery 
and Abortion. 
BY 
E. J. SALISBURY, D.Sc., F.L.S. 
With nine Figures and two Tables in the Text. 
In the present paper further data are furnished in support of the views already put forward by the 
author (Salisbury, 1919),, relative to the essential trimery of the Ranunculaceae and the variation 
in number of the constituent parts of the flower through fission or fusion. 
I. Anemone apennina, L. 
T HIS species affords an interesting subject for comparison with Anemone 
nemorosa , for whereas in that species the prevailing number of perianth 
segments is six with a range of from 4 to 12 (cf. Yule, 1902 ; Salisbury, 1919), 
here the commonest condition is about 16 perianth segments with a range, 
as exhibited in the 150 flowers dissected, of from 9 to 21. 
Of the three regions of the flower the perianth most commonly 
exhibits departure from the trimerous condition which was found in 
34 per cent, of the specimens, a proportion that practically coincides with 
the mathematical probability. 
A noteworthy feature in comparison with its congener is the different 
form of the variation ‘ curve ’. In Fig. 1 the curves for the two species 
and Anemone hepatica are shown, based on the data of Johnson (1908), 
Yule, and the writer. It will be seen that the ‘curves’ for A. nemorosa 
and A. hepatica are strikingly similar in general character, whilst that of 
the former resembles very closely the curve for the perianth of Eranthis 
hyemalis (cf. Salisbury, 1. c., Fig. 4, p. 52, 1919). In all three cases the 
normal number of perianth segments is six, whilst in A. apennina , where 
the normal number is much higher, the mode is near the centre of the curve. 
In other words, whilst in A. apennina the tendency towards diminution is as 
great as that of multiplication where the normal perianth number is low, 
the tendency is almost entirely in the direction of increase. 
That this association is a real one is indicated by the change in form 
of the variation curve for the perianth of Ranunculus bulbosus which de 
Vries attained (1893) by repeated selection. Curves based on de Vries’ 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. XXXIV. No. CXXXIII. January, 1930.] 
