227 
ened by the week’s exposure to the air (although kept in a very 
moist atmosphere), and were no longer capable of absorbing. 
Some twenty or thirty seeds were found that had three cotyl- 
edons. The majority of these developed three primordial leaves 
instead of two (Figs. 3 and 4). Two of the three cotyledons were 
of approximately the same size, and were situated on the first 
node, about sixty degrees apart. The third cotyledon was some- 
what smaller than the other two and was placed a little above the 
node, midway between the others. The plumule had the three 
Primordial leaves fully formed in each case examined ; they were 
in a whorl and alternated with the cotyledons. The bud situated 
between them elongated, but, instead of a single three-parted leaf 
being formed at the third node, two opposite leaves appeared. In 
some of the seedlings two buds were situated between the whorl 
at the second node, each of which formed an internode, at the end 
of which was a three-parted leaf. From this point each stem grew 
regularly, giving rise to a twining stem bearing alternate leaves. 
Six of the plants were allowed to flower and ripen their seed; the 
latter were planted, but not one of the forty-four seeds grew into 
seedlings with more than two cotyledons. 
An interesting case of polyembryony was met with in two 
seeds of the Indian corn (Zea Mays) (Figs. 5 and 6). Two hypo- 
cotyles ruptured the seed coats about the same time, and the fol- 
lowing day two plumules made their appearance. One of the 
seeds was allowed to grow. Both plumules formed healthy leaves, 
the hypocotyles developed strong roots, and to all appearances 
both plants were as vigorous as if they had been grown from sep- 
arate seeds. 
Description of Plate 204. 
“ Fics. 1 and 2,« s,” cotyledon of smaller half; «1” cotyledon of larger half; 
P,” plumule; « h,” smaller hypocotyle; “r,” larger hypocotyle; «b,” bud (2). 
Fic. 3—Bean with three cotyledons; seven days old. 
Fic. 4.—Bean with three cotyledons; two days older. 
Fic, 5—Front view of corn. « b,” larger plumule; “s,” smaller plumule : 
lust breaking through the coats, «t,” smaller hypocotyle ; “c,” larger hypocotyle. 
Fic. 6,—Side view of corn. (Same lettering as Fig. 5.) (2) 
Boranicat LABORATORY, Cornell University. : 
° 
