262 SIR JOHN LUBBOCK ON 
youngest or last developed leaf, and successively by the sheaths of 
younger leaves, which are numerous. The leaves themselves are 
convolute in bud, being rolled up from one edge to the other. 
Axillary buds arise in the axils of old sheaths and develop 
into stolons. The first node develops roots and two leafless, 
enveloping sheaths before a perfect leaf is formed. Their sub- 
sequent history is the same as that of the terminal bud or 
mother-bud. 
H&MODORACEZ. . 
In Sansevieria guineensis, Willd., the leaves are radical, of two 
kinds, arising at the growing-points of an underground rhizome. 
Those on the rhizome beneath the soil are reduced to mere sheaths 
which soon perish. Above ground are five to six or more, also 
reduced to sheaths, but leathery, green, rolled round the bud and 
overlapping at the base, as well as closely imbricating over one 
another. The lower ones are mucronate, and the rest have à 
subulate point of greater or less length representing the lamine. 
The perfect leaf is usually solitary, and, like the rest, convolute 
in bud, but when developed, ligulate, entire, leathery, glabrous, 
convex on the back and shallowly grooved by the incurvig of 
the sides, 
The terminal bud is deeply sunk in the centre of the convolute, 
imbricating, cylindrical mass of leaves. 
In S. cylindrica, Boj., the primary and modified leaves are about 
eight in number, dilated at the base, and closely imbricate, 
enclosing a solitary cylindrical leaf, which occupies the w 
the space between the scale-leaves. 
hole of 
TACCACE. 
Tacca artocarpifolia, Seem.—The crown or terminal bud 18 
subterranean, and also covered by the sheath. The flower-scapes 
are lexfless, but furnished with bracts beneath the flowers 17 
with a leaf at the base reduced to the condition of a spathe but 
which rises above the ground on the resumption of growth. 
In Tacca cristata, Jack, the petiole is rather long, stout, deep 
channelled with a sharply angular groove and strongly e 
edges, glabrous, shining, deep purple-red, gradually and m " 
dilated at the base, and ineurved at the sides till the mare" 
nearly closed. The base of the lamina is decurrent wn ath 
petiole, and the ridges of the latter are continued into the she 
at the base. 
