PLANT “SPORTS ” 213 
friends a little better. In this specimen there are 
no less than three small petal-like growths, each 
springing from the anthers of a distinct stamen ; 
and, in addition, there is one badly-grown petal in 
the line of the stamens. And in our second speci- 
men we see similar growths. These flowers are 
beginning a revolution in the ways of their genus 
by making their sepals leaf-like and some of their 
stamens petal-like. It is the transformation of 
stamens into petals that accounts for their irregular 
numbers. I must tell you that it is not uncommon 
for stamens to be thus transformed. All Roses 
once were single ; they had five petals and numerous 
stamens ; but they exhibited tendencies to “ sport,” 
and rose-growers encouraged them. “‘ Double” 
Roses are “singles” with stamens converted into 
petals. 
Perhaps our Geum intermedium is a new species 
in the making. It will be interesting to see if the 
plants produce similar flowers next season, and 
whether they will exhibit any more freaks. One 
cannot help wishing that such rank heretics and 
bold adventurers in the plant world should succeed 
in their revolutionary measures. But, alas! like 
many adventurers, they are likely to be crushed. 
‘ Freaks ”’ or “ sports ”’ in plant-life are frequent. 
Clover should have ternate leaves, but occasionally 
“four-leaved ” clover is found, and superstition 
saith that the finder will be lucky. Perhaps you 
know the bonny Premorse, or Devil’s-bit Scabious 
(Scabiosa succisa), that spangles the pastures with 
its blue globular heads of flowers in the late summer 
and autumn. I have sometimes found specimens 
