358 MR. H. M. CHIBBER ON THE MORPHOLOGY 
MORPHOLOGY. 
Roots. 
As the Betel-vine is always propagated by euttings of the shoot, the- 
roots found in plantations are necessarily adventitious. These arise at the 
nodes of the stems and cuttings. The roots on the shoot act, above 
ground, as climbing organs, adhering as they do to the supports. Тһе 
attachment to the support is effected by root-hairs. The roots bearing 
these arise in two circles—one just above and the other just below the. 
insertion of a leaf. The upper circle of each pair appears first (РІ. 17. fig. 1). 
This circle is incomplete, because of the axillary bud which fills up the gap. 
Each circle is made of an irregular number of roots, usually varying from 
six to twelve. Such of these as secure a support grow further into a 
branched system (РІ. 17. fig. 5), the remainder shrivel up. The lower circle 
of roots is at times suppressed. 
The underground roots do not attain to a great size, as the same part of 
the vine does not persist beyond three or four years. Their thickness hardly 
exceeds 6 millimetres. They are freely branching and spread out in the 
upper layers of the soil. 
Shoots. 
As the plant is vegetatively multiplied by cuttings, the shoots are never a: 
direct growth of the plumule. All shoots are therefore fundamentally 
lateral, Yet shoots in different positions show differences in their structure,. 
thus constituting different growth-types. 
The plant is a root-climber, as already stated. All the shoots аго, 
however, not provided with the climbing apparatus ; it is only the shoots 
that start from the parts buried for propagation and run straight up- 
wards—in other words, the main shoots—that are so provided. They ran. 
up to any height from 3 to 10 m., according to faeilities for climbing. 
They bear lateral branches along their whole length. Again, the lateral 
branches borne within a couple of feet from the ground differ from those- 
borne higher up. Thus we get three types of shoots, which may be termed 
respectively (1) the leaders, (2) the middle and top branches, (3) the ground' 
branches. They may now be described in detail. 
Leader.—Kach leader is monopodial in construction. The internodes 
generally attain a length of about 12 em. and a diameter of 1:2 cm. 
They are almost terete, being very slightly flattened. One of the flattened 
faces is opposed to the support. When young they are light green and 
marked by short, raised, whitish streaks. These show the location of the 
stomata. In older parts lenticels take their place. 
The nodes are marked by an annulation caused by the stipules ; above and; 
` 
below this ring we get the climbing roots, alr ady described. The leaf-. 
