152 



alternate scales. These, however, are frequently absent, proba- 

 bly having been decomposed. Following these are healthy scales 

 untainted by decay, the later forms of which develop at their 

 tip, more or less gradually, small leaf-blades, which increase m 

 size in succeeding scales until the normal leaf-form is attained 

 (figs. 6, 7, 8). Apparently in the alternate axils of these scales 

 are from one to four fully developed flowers (fig, s), succeeding 

 which in regular order are only aborted flowers, apparently m 

 alternate axils of the later scales and in the alternate axils of all 

 true leaves (figs. 9, 10), until a few scales have been formed to 

 serve as an external covering for next spring, when again a few 

 flowers will develop to full maturity. It was stated that one or 

 two aborted flowers produced previously to those w^hich develop 

 normally are membranaceous ; the same is true of the first two 

 or three aborted flowers succeeding those of normal develop- 

 ment. The remaining aborted flowers cannot at this season 01 

 the year be distinguished from those which shall develop in the 

 succeeding season (figs. 16, 17). 



Examining these specimens a second time more carefully, it 

 will be found that the flow^ers are not in the axils of leaves or 

 scales, as at first supposed, this place being occupied by a small 

 leaf bud (fig. 13). These leaf buds are quite small, even in the 

 earlier scales, and decrease rapidly in size until finally they can 

 be detected only by the expert dissector (fig. 17). In this they 

 offer a marked contrast to the flower, which can readily be seen 

 even in the aborted state, long after the detection of the leaf buds 

 has become difficult. The flowers, on the other hand, will now 

 be seen to be situated towards the right or left of the leaf bud 

 (their position being variable in different plants, but continuous 

 for the same specimen), and to be enfolded by the basal edges ol 

 a scale, whose axil is on the opposite side of the plant, and never 

 subtends a bud ; so that there are alternately scales (or leaves) 

 with and without leaf buds. The flowers are in the axils ot 

 neither scales nor leaves. 



At this point, when everything seems to be in confusion, al 

 the materials are at hand for the ready understanding of the 

 structure of this plant The flower in each case represents the 

 end of the entire stem, to which all succeeding parts are bu 



