116 МЕ. R. Н. COMPTON : AN INVESTIGATION OF THE 
THE Primitive HABIT. 
There is a strong probability that among Angiosperms generally the 
arboreal habit is primitive, the herbaceous habit derived. The well-nigh 
universal prevalence of the arboreal type among Gymnosperms, Pterido- 
spermze, Cordaitales, and the more primitive Pteridophyta leaves little room 
for doubt as to the truth of this view: especially as the various groups of 
Archichlamydez which have been regarded as primitive (* Amentiferze," 
Ranales, and so on) consist largely of woody forms. 
There is much to indicate that the arboreal habit is primitive in the Legu- 
minose also. The closely related and probably relatively primitive Conna- 
racee and Rosacew consist almost wholly of woody species, and so do those 
Leguminose to which they are most closely allied, viz. Mimosoidew and 
Cresalpinioidee. Тһе Sophoresz and Podalyrieze, which are by some regarded 
as the most primitive tribes of the Leguminosæ, are almost entirely arboreal, 
and so are the nearly-related Genisteæ. The more advanced tribes of the 
order contain a high proportion of herbaceous forms. 
Thus the theory that the arboreal habit is primitive, the herbaceous 
derived, within the Leguminose, seems to be well founded ; just as for the 
Angiosperms generally. 
This being so, it follows from the results of the last section that large 
seeds and seedlings are probably primitive, small seeds and seedlings derived. 
Thus we again reach the conclusion that the stable form of tetrarchy and the 
low transition typical of large seedlings are the fundamental characters 
within the order, from which the other types of structure have been evolved. 
The whole series of correlations and tendencies within the Leguminose 
appears so consistent that there is much probability that the interpretations 
whieh have been placed upon them are substantially correct. 
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. 
In the present paper the seedling structure of a considerable number of 
species of the Leguminose has been placed on record ; the species examined 
belong to most of the tribes of the three sub-orders, and may be considered 
representative of the family asa whole. Detailed information as to individual 
species is given in Part A. In Part B is given a Summary List of the most 
important features of form, size, and structure exhibited by the seedlings of 
the Leguminose, so far as is at present known to the author: here is placed 
also a concise résumé of the characteristies of individual tribes and sub-orders 
In Part C the information is analysed, and various new facts are introduced as 
they bear upon the discussion. 
