514 SIR JOHN LUBBOCK ON STIPULES, 
Pandanus). This allows a more equal distribution with regard to 
light, and would appear to be desirable owing to the undeveloped 
state of the internodes aud the consequent crowded condition of 
the leaves in dense rosettes. The leaves are exstipulate, but 
connate at the base, forming a cup of some depth around the 
axis and the numerous young leaves surmounting and protecting 
it; the edges of the free portions are ciliate-serrate for some 
distance above the union. In the earlier stages of the develop- 
ment of the leaves the cilie interlock more or less with one 
another, thus serving to keep the young leaves compact over the 
crown of younger ones as well as the growing poiut of the axis. 
Scleranthus thus holds the same relation to Paronychia 
amongst the Ilecebracex, as Dianthus and Sagina do to Spergula 
and Spergularia amongst the Caryophyllex. In both orders 
where stipules are wanting the leaves are connate at the base. 
POLYGONACES. 
In Atraphazxis lanceolata, Bunge, the leaves are oblanceolate, 
alternate, shortly petiolate or subsessile, and articulated with a 
persistent pedestal; revolute in bud. The stipules are ocreate, 
adnate to the pedestal throughout its length, then connate both 
anteriorly and posteriorly into a cylindrical sheath fitting closely 
to the axis above its leaf, and terminating abruptly except for 
two lateral prolongations forming subulate points as long as the 
cylindrical portion. 
The free portions of the stipules are of service in protecting 
the terminal bud, where the leaves are rather crowded and the 
free points of several ocree together form a small conical mass 
covering the young leaves. They also lend additional protection 
to the axillary buds by being erect and closely applied to them. 
The first leaf of axillary buds is reduced to its sheathing stipules, 
so that altogether the axillary buds are well protected. 
In Atraphaxis spinosa, Linn., where the stipules are as in 
A. lanceolata, the terminal buds are protected by the ocree and 
the apex by the subulate prolongations. In the autumn these 
harden and die, becoming spiny. Axillary buds are also pro- 
tected by ocree. The portion of the latter that is adnate to the 
pedestal is persistent after the fall of the leaf, while the thinner 
portion extending round the axis falls away. The long fringe- 
like points are also persistent. A number (apparently three) of 
the primary leaves ot the axillary buds are reduced to their 
