[57]

July 3d 1841. Shrewsbury. Terrace

Silene inflata? —

(a)

In Some clumps consist of plant entirely with abortive anthers wh. seem never to shed any pollen, wh. possibly they contain & short stamens but the germen swell (but far less than in L. dioica & therefore forming good series in abortion)

& others with Other clumps consist of plants with stamens long & anthers with bursting with pollen. — I once found perfect flower in clump of abortion, & traced it down to root & found every twig from it had borne perfect flower — Pistil vary from, three, four & five.— these numbers occur indifferently in both perfect & imperfect flowers — One whole clump, however, of imperfect consisted of three & four pistils & not one of 5.—

[57v]

I see by Sowerby Eng Bot some species have tendency to become Diœcious —

{Some of the abortive clumps seed freely others not at all— some of those with stamens also seed some not— worth investigation?