And before describing the details of my
unsuccessful pedigree-culture, it may be as well to give some more
instances of what occurs in nature.
Stray anomalies are of course rare, but not so rare that they might not
be found in large numbers when perseveringly sought for. Pitcher-like
leaves may be found on many trees and shrubs and herbs, but ordinarily
one or only two of them are seen in the course of many years on the same
plant, or in the same strain. In some few instances they occur annually
or nearly so, as in some individuals of the European lime-tree (_Tilia
parvifolia_) and of the common magnolia (_Magnolia obovata_). Many of
our older cultivated plants are very rich in anomalies of all kinds, and
_Cyclamen_, _Fuchsia_, _Pelargonium_ and some others are notorious
sources of teratologic phenomena. Deviations in flowers may often be
seen, consisting of changes in the normal number of the several organs,
or alterations in their shape and color. Leaves may have two tips,
instead of one, the mid-vein being split near the apex, and the fissure
extending more or less towards the base. Rays of the umbels of
umbelliferous plants may grow together and become united in groups of
two or more, and in the same way the fruits of [356] the composites may
be united into groups. Many other instances could easily be given.
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