The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species

by Charles Darwin

MID-STYLED FORM.

Twenty-four flowers legitimately fertilised by the stamens of corresponding length, borne by the long and short-styled forms, yielded 96 (probably 100) per cent of capsules, which contained (excluding one capsule with 12 seeds) on an average 117.2 seeds.

Fifteen mid-styled flowers fertilised illegitimately by the longest stamens of the short-styled form yielded 93 per cent of capsules, which (excluding four capsules with less than 20 seeds) contained on an average 102.8 seeds.

Thirteen mid-styled flowers fertilised illegitimately by the mid-length stamens of the long-styled form yielded 54 per cent of capsules, which (excluding one with 19 seeds) contained on an average 60.2 seeds.

Twelve mid-styled flowers fertilised illegitimately by their own-form longest stamens yielded 25 per cent of capsules, which (excluding one with 9 seeds) contained on an average 77.5 seeds.

Twelve mid-styled flowers fertilised illegitimately by their own-form shortest stamens yielded not a single capsule.