Teratology in Trillium Grandiflorum

Abstract

Hall, Marion Trufant. (Butler U., Indianapolis, Ind.) Teratology in Trillium grandiflorum. Amer. Jour. Bot. 48(9): 803–811. Illus. 1961.—Attempts were made to determine the causes of persistent but seasonally variable abnormalities in both vegetative and floral organs of an assemblage of plants grouped under the name Trillium grandiflorum var. variegatum Smith. Comparative studies of vegetative and floral morphology between normal and abnormal plants are presented and illustrated. Normal shoots of the same rhizome vary but little from season to season. Abnormal shoots of the same rhizome vary markedly in some instances and very little in others from season to season. In the abnormal shoots, leaves and petals vary most, then stamens, ovaries, and sepals, in that order. In the populations observed, abnormal plants did not mature seed even though only a few specimens were seen which had no viable pollen. A comparative study of leaf and flower proteins of normal (var. grandiflorum) and abnormal (var. variegatum) plants was made. Electrophoretic analysis showed no virus but showed leaf protein abundant in the floral organs, particularly in the petals. It is suggested that the presence of these extra leaf proteins is sufficient to increase variability in the floral organs and in most cases to prevent the normal development of the sporophylls.

Cytology of Some Variegated Forms ofTrillium Grandiflorum(Liliaceae)

“…HALL (1961) stated that direct environmental responses as an explanation for the occurrence of such aberrant forms of Trillium could not be correlated since vanatlons are possible in a single colony in nature and likewise when grown in a uniform environment. He suggested that differential sensitivity to shock or other factors of environment might prove important.…”

“…Around the Great Lakes region some local populations of aberrant forms are reported. Detailed accounts of their occurrence have been documented from time to time (GATES 1917;FERNALD 1950;HALL 1961;GAD and CRUISE 1974;PRINGLE 1976).…”

“…Such plants can be plentiful, distributed at random in a population, while they may be completely absent in a second population in the same area. HALL ( 1961) has made a comparative study of leaf and flower proteins of normal and abnormal forms of T. grandiflorum. His studies did not indicate the presence of a virus causing the associated abnormalities of such plants.…”