42 



or decayed remains of other plants; while others like Monotropa uniflora 

 . , . obtain part of their food from living plants." 



In Ealfour's Class Book of Botany, 3rd Ed., p. 848, the only state- 

 ment I find is "Monotropacese; parasitic plants . . . chiefly found 

 parasitic on firs in Europe, Asia and North America." 



Sachs, translated by Bennett and Dyer, 1875, p. G20: "Parasites 

 draw the products of assimilation directly from their hosts, while sapro- 

 phytes (as . . . Monotropa, many fungi, <tc.) make use for the 

 same purpose of the materials of other plants whicli are already in a 

 state of decomposition." 



To add to the uncertainty it has been asserted that a connection 

 has been observed between the monotropa and its supposed host. If 

 so, that settles the matter. But as I am aware of only two cases in 

 which this is alleged, may we not withold our assent until more obser- 

 vations have been made. It is possible the observers may have been 

 mistaken, and any one who examines the root of Monotropa uniflora 

 will find it is not at all like a parasitic I'oot. This is only presumptive 

 evidence ; apart from this I have carefully looked for the connection 

 between the monotropa and the root of some other plant upon which it 

 might be fastened, but I have been unable to trace the connection. 

 Perhaps the appearance of the plant has misled some observers, a color- 

 less plant being commonly regarded as a parasite. This is an assump- 

 tion. Monotropa is apparently without a particle of chlorophyll in its 

 composition, and therefore has been assumed to be incapable of living 

 and growing by making use of any food that has not been elaborated 

 and prepared by a means of chlorophyll. 



The analogy of the action of the germ in seeds, utilizing starch, oil, 

 &c., contained in the seed for the growth and development of the very 

 young plant, would give some encouragement to the contention that 

 our monotropa may be able to use the organic matter of decaying 

 leaves, (fee, in its growth and development. The analogy may be set 

 over against the assumption; but if it can be shown that our plant can 

 grow and develop when only such material is supplied, the assumption 

 shuuld be abandoned as untenable. The following happened with me : 

 A mass of soil and monotropa was put in a glass vessel, watered and 

 set aside to await a convenient time for the examination of the roots ^ 



