Da die verschiedenen constanten Formen an einer Pflanze, ja in einer Blüthe derselben erzeugt werden, erscheint die Annahme folgerichtig, dass in den Fruchtknoten der Hybriden so vielerlei Keimzellen (Keimbläschen) und in den Antheren so vielerlei Pollenzellen gebildet werden, als constante Combinationsformen möglich sind, und dass diese Keim- und Pollenzellen ihrer inneren Beschaffenheit nach den einzelnen Formen entsprechen.
Since the different constant forms are produced on one plant, yes, in one flower of the same, the assumption seems consequential that as many different kinds of germ cells (germ vesicles) are formed in the ovary, and as many kinds of pollen cells in the anthers, as constant combination forms are possible, and that these germ- and pollen cells correspond in their inner constitution to the individual forms.
Mendel refers back here to his observation that segregation of seed traits can be observed in one and the same pod; see p. 19, s. 8. He is again deducing a hypothesis to be tested by the back-crosses he reports on in this section. The sentence formulates an important analogy between macroscopic “forms” and the microscopic “constitution” of gametes, which is restated at the very end of Section 9. It is important to keep in mind that “forms” here, as elsewhere in Mendel’s paper, does not only refer to visible traits, but to transmission behaviour as well, in this case the “constancy” of traits in transmission. “Constant forms” have the status of species for Mendel; see p. 6, s. 14.
constant forms = constante Formen See p. 15, s. 7.
as many … kinds = so vielerlei On the suffix -lei see p. 42, s. 4.
germ cells = Keimzellen See p. 24, s. 4.
germ vesicle = Keimbläschen Franz Unger, Grundlinien der Anatomie und Physiologie der Pflanzen (Wien: Wilhelm Braumüller, 1866, p. 154) cites this term as a synonym for “egg cell” (Eizelle) in plants, and defines it as the cell that is finally penetrated by the pollen tube.
combination forms = Combinationsformen Manuskript has “Kombinations-Formen”
innner constitution = innere Beschaffenheit On “constitution” (Beschaffenheit) see p. 24, s. 4. Mendel calls it “inner” (innere) not only because it is something in the cells that determines “form”, but also because it is something that is not necessarily expressed in external traits; cf. p. 40, s. 1.