1 898.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 483 



greater elongation of the stem than the central bud. It thus fore- 

 shadows the precedence which it takes in the future development of 

 the plant. It can be readily observed that the suppressed lateral 

 bud is the one next the main axis of branch b. 



Comparing fig. 4 with fig. 1, a decided difference in the relative 

 growth of the main axis and its branches is to be observed. This 

 difference is still further emphasized by such shoots as the one 

 represented by fig. 3. 



From the foregoing, fig. 5 represents a striking contrast in some 

 respects. Here we find a short axis terminated at a, with long 

 lateral branches which are studded with branchlets along their 

 upper side. Fig. 2 is the necessary connecting link. This was taken 

 from a low bush with a very short main axis. The right lateral 

 branch resembles fig. 5, while the lateral branch to the left is quite 

 similar to the branches of fig. 1. 



Plate XXV, fig. 5 explains itself if we recall the two buds of fig. 

 7. We can readily see that this effect is produced by the vigorous 

 growth of the lateral bud with little or no growth of the main axis. 

 The axes of the branches in their turn are suppressed when the next 

 ramification occurs and the energy of growth is again transferred to 

 the lateral branch of the next series. We have thus produced a 

 so-called false axis, i. e. an axis which is successively formed from 

 the lateral branches of the main axis, the latter continuing to exist 

 with little or no growth. This is well known to botanists as the 

 sympodial method of branching and is observable in many of our 

 forest trees. 



In making the drawings I was struck with their resemblance to 

 the diagrammatic representations, found in many of our text books, 

 of the cyme, in which the oldest flower terminates the stem while 

 the main growth continues laterally. Compare, e. g., fig. 4, with the 

 little axillary clusters of Weigelia or the inflorescence of the Caryo- 

 phyllacese. Furthermore a peculiar modification of the cyme is 

 well known as the monochasium in which there is but one lateral 

 ramification. This finds its parallel in fig. 7. The monochasium 

 repeats itself indefinitely and here also this peculiar method of 

 branching has a decided tendency to continue until at times we have 

 a false axis whose length is to be measured by the yard. It is 

 curious that the lateral branch which carries on the growth is always 

 on the same side of the axis and thus the case is further comparable 



