═════════╤══════════════════════════════════╕
_Cluster_ │ │
─────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
PLANT. │ │
{ 1 │ 6A, 35b, 2br, 2l, 21p. │
{ │ 4A, 26b, 1bl, 2l, 1r, 11p. │
{ 3 │ 23b, 2bl, 4br, 1l, 1r, 31p, 5a. │
│ │
II—1 │ 22b, 2br, 1bl, 2r, 12p, 2a. │
│ │
III—1 │ 41b, 2bl, 1br, 2l, 2r, 34p, 2a. │
│ │
{ 1 │ 30b, 2bl, 1br, 1l, 1r, 2p. │
IV { 2 │ 1A, 31b, 2b1, 1br, 1l, 1r, 2p. │
│ │
V—1 │ 1A, 17b, 1bl, 1l, 3r, 8p. │
│ │
{ 1 │ 4A, 30b, 1l, 1r, 18p, 4a. │
VI { 2 │ 1A, 28b, 1l, 2r, 14p, 1a. │
│ │
VII—1 │ 33b, 3bl, 1br, 2l, 2r, 11p. │
│ │
{ 1 │ 10b. │
VIII { 2 │ 21b, 1br, 2l, 1r, 3p. │
│ │
{ 1 │ 19b, 1bl, 1br, 1l, 2r, 10p, 2a. │
{ 2 │ 25b, 2bl, 2l, 1r, 19p. │
IX { 3 │ 1A, 27b, 1br, 1l, 18p, 2a. │
{ 4 │ 1A, 7b, 2r, 15p, 1a. │
│ │
{ 1 │ 18b, 1bl, 3br, 1r, 6p, 1a. │
X { 2 │ 2A, 12b, 1l, 1r, 2p, 2a. │
├──────────────────────────────────┤
│ 21A, 455b, 18br, 18bl, 21l, 24r, │
│ 234p, 22a. │
─────────┴──────────────────────────────────┘
Abundant material in apparently the best condition was found growing
around Lake View. Ten plants from this locality were examined,
and their condition is here given in tabulated form. In the table
following, the number of the plant is given in Roman numerals, the
numbers of the branches following it in Arabic numerals. Beginning with
the lower portion of the branch and passing upward, the flower clusters
are numbered consecutively. These numbers, designated by “cluster,” are
given in the first line at the top of the table. In the column beneath
each of these numbers is shown the condition of the flowers of that
cluster on the different branches of the different plants. The table
was arranged in this form, not because a comparison of the condition of
clusters of the same number is especially desired, but because this
seemed the most compact form in which it could be arranged. In the
columns under the different clusters, the condition of the flowers
is designated as follows: _r_ = right-, _l_ = left-handed flower;
_b_ = bud; _br_ and _bl_ designate buds which are so well developed
that it is possible to determine whether they are right-handed or
left-handed—these buds will probably open the following morning; a = a
bud or flower which has fallen off or failed to develop; A, indicates
that the whole cluster has failed to develop. When an axillary cluster
is developed it is included in a brace, with the cluster occurring
immediately above it, the axillary cluster always being placed below. A
seed pod is designated by _p_.
In the last column to the right the condition of each branch is
summarized, and finally the grand total is given at the foot of the
column.
In table D we have taken into account 241 flower clusters, and 21 which
are either abortive or injured. The number of abortive clusters might
be somewhat increased if great care had been exercised in looking
for the accessory buds just above the axils of the lowest leaves
on the branches. As a rule, however, the first internode or so, if
questionable, was omitted. From this it would seem that about eight
per cent. of the clusters fail to develop, a percentage which would
probably be somewhat increased if care had been exercised in noting the
buds where development had been arrested at a very early stage.
On the 10 plants, 14 axillary clusters were produced, being 5.5 per
cent. of all the developed clusters. Of these 14 clusters, 2 produced 2
buds each, the others only 1; an average of 1.14 flowers per cluster.
The 241 normally developed clusters produced 773 buds, an average of
3.27 flowers per cluster. Of the 773 buds produced on the 10 plants, 22
are found to be injured and fail to develop normally; a percentage of
2.84.
While the series of material is too limited to permit of indulging in
generalizations, it might be of interest to note that on 40 plants
bearing 332 seed pods, taken from two square feet of ground, September
4, and 3 other plants producing 130 seed pods, taken at the same time,
not a single pod developed from an axillary cluster was found. These
plants, however, with the exception of the last three, represent all
produced on a definite area. It might not be improbable that the
smaller, crowded plants would not be so likely to produce axillary
clusters as the larger plants growing under more favorable conditions.
We may at least conclude from this that the axillary flowers are of
little consequence in the seed-producing capacity of the plant.
For the sake of convenience, it has been deemed advisable to summarize
in table E the conditions of the flowers and buds which will probably
open the day following, as given in table D. From this table, it will
be seen that on the day the plants were examined 42 flowers were
open—5.4 per cent. of the 773 buds produced on the 10 plants. These
flowers as well as the buds, 36 in number, which were to open the next
day, are equally divided into right-and left-handed.
The buds which are next to open do not, in any of the cases noted in
the above tables, occur on a cluster with flowers which are already
open.