Pelorism

[4] Pelorism has been of interest since a five-spurred variety of the common toad-flax (Linaria vulgaris L.) was first discovered in 1742 by a young Uppsala botanist on an island in the Stockholm archipelago and then in 1744 described by Carl Linnaeus.

Linnaeus found that this variety was contrary to his concept that genera and species had universally arisen through an act of "original creation and remained unchanged since then".

[8] Charles Darwin took a particular interest in peloric flowers, growing and cross-pollinating antirrhinums himself, as he saw the phenomenon as suggestive of a partial reversion to a past or ancestral type.

[9] Peloric forms quite commonly appear as random mutations in several orchid species in nature and this is genetically controlled, although the expression can be influenced by both environmental changes and by stresses.

[15] Pelorism is found in several orchid species, such as Phalaenopsis it is demonstrated by flowers with abnormal numbers of petals or lips as a genetic trait, the expression of which is environmentally influenced and may appear random.