NOTES. 
TERATOLOGICAL PHENOMENA IN THE INFLORESCENCES OF 
FAGUS SYLVATICA. —While examining some specimens collected for class 
purposes, Mr. B. H. Bentley observed on the cupules of several of the female 
inflorescences of the Beech some small flowers approximating both in size and 
structure to the male flowers of the same tree. He pointed out the occurrence to the 
writer and at the same time very kindly suggested that a further examination might 
reveal some details of interest. Material was therefore collected from various parts of 
the Sheffield district, and the following observations were made in the course of the 
examination. It is possible that the phenomena here described have been noted 
before, but in the limited literature available only one relevant reference was found 
besides the description in Eichler’s ‘ Bliithendiagramme ’, viz. a note describing a herma¬ 
phrodite flower of the Beech, by Schnizlein. 1 
The whole of the material was gathered at the end of May and the commence¬ 
ment of June, from trees growing in soil overlying the Coal Measures and Millstone 
Grit. 
The abnormalities observed may be grouped as follows: 
1. Inflorescences wholly female, but bearing either a greater or lesser number 
of flowers than the normal. 
2. Inflorescences (with either the normal or abnormal number of female flowers) 
bearing hermaphrodite and male flowers. (Androgynous.) 
3. Inflorescences with no normal female flowers, and showing a marked tendency 
towards transition to male inflorescence structure. (Transitional.) 
From four to six complete foliage leaves are found on the young shoots, whether 
these be laterally or terminally situated on the branch. The lowest two or three 
leaves of the shoot usually bear male, the next one or two leaves female, inflorescences 
in their axils. Higher leaves subtend foliage buds. 
The following data may serve to indicate the frequency of the various ab¬ 
normalities. The last (distal) inflorescence on the shoot is called terminal; the next 
lower down, lateral. 
Of 100 terminal inflorescences gathered indiscriminately from 10 trees at 
Grindleford, 91 had normal structure, 1 bore only one female flower, 8 were 
androgynous. 
Of 100 lateral inflorescences from the same trees, 75 were normal, 16 andro¬ 
gynous, 9 transitional. 
Material from Ecclesall (terminals and laterals not kept separate). 
1 A. Schnizlein: Zwitterbluthen von Fagus sylvatica. Bot. Zeit., 1850. 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. XXXVII. No. CXLV. January, 1923.] 
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