Feb. 23,1924 
Teosinte Maize Hybrids 
567 
developing over a relatively long period of time obviates some of the 
difficulties in classification arising from the effect on branching of fluc¬ 
tuating environmental factors. 
characters measured 
Several characters which were measured in the crinkly-teosinte hybrid 
were disregarded in the ramose hybrid, since the two parents were not 
strikingly different with respect to them, and several new characters 
which serve to differentiate the parents were added. The added char¬ 
acters are: (a) Length of upper branch of tassel; (b) best spike, double 
male; ( c) best spike, mixed male and female; and (d) number of branches 
on the best spike. 
Length of upper branch of tassel. —In ramose, the upper branch 
of the tassel often is but a centimeter or two long while in teosinte it 
usually exceeds 10 centimeters in length. 
Best spike, double MALE. —The number of alicoles having two 
staminate spikelets on the best spike. This type of inflorescence, 
though expected, was not found in the crinkly hybrid. 
Best spike, MIXED MALE and female. —The number of alicoles having 
one staminate and one pistillate spikelet on the best spike. Where 
double male alicoles are found, the spike usually has a few alicoles with 
spikelets of both sexes marking the transition from the pistillate to the 
staminate portion. 
Number of branches on the best spike. —This corresponds to 
the number of branches on the ears of ramose plants, and is, of course, 
found only when the plant is of the ramose type. This type of branching 
is not to be confused with the branched inflorescence of teosinte, where 
each branch is subtended by bracts. When the spike is but two-rowed, 
resembling the teosinte parent with respect to this character, and is 
combined with the branching typical of ramose maize, the number of 
branches seldom exceeds 14, since they are limited to the number of 
alicoles. All the other characters used are identical with those of the 
crinkly-teosinte hybrid described on pages 540-543. 
inheritance of measured characters 
The biometrical constants for the plants of the and F 2 are given 
in Table VI, while the frequency polygons are shown in figures 44 to 75. 
In each of the figures the plants classed as ramose are shaded. 
