412 DR. C. L. WITHYCOMBE ON THE FUNCTION OF 
NOTE ON THE Post-EMBRYONAL DEVELOPMENT OF UTRICULARTA VULGARIS L. 
In 1877 (4) F. Kamiénski published a full account of the development of 
Utricularia, and this account has been freely quoted from. Kamienski’s 
figure of a germinating seed showing its cluster or whorl of filiform leaves 
arising direct from the seed coat is well known, and, among other books, it 
reappears in Mrs. Arber’s ‘ Water Plants.’ 
Some years ago I grew about two dozen Utricularia vulgaris plants from 
seed, and in no case could I confirm Kamiénski's account of the post- 
embryonal development. The seed does not give so directly a whorl of 
leaves such as he figures, but the development passes through a stage very 
similar to that of Pinguicula. 
Fres. 7-11. 
10 
8 9 11 
Germination and later stages of Utricularia. 
LI 
After flowering, the flower stems of the plant die and fall into the water. 
The seeds having ripened, the seed capsule rots, or more often appears to 
dehisee by the swelling of the seeds within. However this may be, the seeds 
are as a rule set free at some time during autumn or winter, but they do not 
germinate. 
In the following spring germination takes place, but it is difficult to 
observe the exact time. Seeds ripened in 1920 germinated from the 26th of 
March, 1921, to the 2nd of April, 1921. The seed coat ruptures and a fleshy 
green mass appears from within. This grows to the form seen in fig. 7, 
although it frequently loses the seed coat before this time. Figs. 8 and 10 
show forms seen on the 8th of April, 1921. They may be described as green, 
