Trimorphism in Scabiosa succisa

Abstract

THIS species is usually described as gynodiœcious. Hooker (“Student's Flora”) thus refers to it. Darwin (“Forms of Flowers”) says, “I have observed the existence of two forms in our endemic. S. succisa”; further, “From what Lecoq says (‘Géographie Botanique’) S. succisa appears to occur under two forms in France”; and again, “According to Lecoq, the female flower-heads of S. succisa are smaller than those of what he calls the male plants, but which are probably hermaphrodites.” Hermann Müller (“Fertilization of Flowers”) also speaks of S. succisa as existing under two forms in Germany.