130 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 
found an ascidium in the leaf of Masdevallia Lindeni but 
no description is given. Jacob de Cordemoy * describes 
an anomaly in Vanilla planifolia which may be exactly 
comparable with those seen in Agave and Grasteria. The 
branches were terminated by an erect, slightly flattened, 
hollow, fusiform body of eight centimeters in length and 
one centimeter in thickness. A histological examination 
showed this organ to be foliar in nature, but the description 
of the solid stalk of the fusiform body does not permit of 
a final decision as to the comparability of the tubiform 
ascidia under consideration. 
The condition in Polygonatum multiflorum is of in- 
terest in this connection. The first record is that of 
Morren f of a monophyllous, tubiform ascidium. Later 
he describes t a specimen in the collection of Hincks 
as a series of three ascidia through the center of 
which passed the axis bearing normal leaves and flow- 
ers. ‘* Qu’on s’imagine done un cornet foliacé qui 
se termine par deux oreillettes latérales et opposées, 
servant d’étui & deux autres cornets ayant aussi chacun 
deux oreillettes opposées, et au-dessus d’eux un bouquet de 
feuilles et de fleurs, et on aura la représentation de cette 
belle monstruosité, de cette curieuse anomalie.’? Morren 
thought it remarkable that the ascidia should have been 
formed by the fusion of two leaves but this point was, he 
considered, established by the presence of the two auricles 
which formed about the terminal fourth of the total length 
of the ascidia. To give rise to such ascidia the position 
of the three pairs of leaves must have changed from 
alternate to nearly opposite. 
* Jacob de Cordemoy,H. Rev. Gén. Bot. 11 : 258-267. jig. 54-58. 
1899. 
t Morren, C. Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Brux. 534387, 439, 586. 1838, — 
Ann. Sci. Nat. Il. 11: 124, 126. 1839. 
¢t Morren,C. Bull. Acad. Roy. Belg. 5 ¢ 584-585. 1838; 19° 3 456, 458. 
1852. 
