1897.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 163 



Fig. 5 represents a plant of considerably larger size. In other 

 respects it did not differ materially from that represented by fig. 

 2. Unless the truncate end of the corm may be considered as such, 

 every trace of the appendage was lost. This " cut off" appearance 

 did not belong to the body of the corm, for when the shrivelled coat- 

 ing was removed, the lower end revealed a conical shape — fig. 6. 



Fig. 7 shows a plant whose leaves and general appearance in- 

 dicated a farther stage of development, although its growth ap- 

 peared somewhat stunted. Three large buds z, had formed. The 

 specimen was interesting on account of the different relative posi- 

 tion of corm, stem and roots as compared with the plants repre- 

 sented in the preceding illustrations. The roots here emerged from 

 the base of the corm, while in the other cases described they pro- 

 ceeded from above. A turning of the corm seemed to have taken 

 place, the point through which the axis of rotation may be consid- 

 ered to pass is evidently at the junction of corm and stem. This 

 apparent rotation is probably due to the position in which the termi- 

 nus of the runner is primarily lodged. At all events, the subject 

 deserves further investigation. The upright stem in all cases obeys, 

 according to the rule, the influence of negative geotropism, the roots 

 are positively geotropic, but the corm itself seems to be quite free 

 from the influence of this force. Physiologically, this is certainly of 

 interest : I do not now recall any similar observations recorded in 

 regard to the effect of geotropism on bulbs produced from under- 

 ground runners. 



Fig. 8 represents a plant considerably larger than that of fig. 

 7. The corm here had an appearance of partial rotation, while 

 fig. 9 shows a corm from a plant similar to those of figs. 1 and 

 2, with the appendage below. It is a question, probably only to be 

 decided by statistics, which is the normal position, if there be such a 

 one, in young and mature plants. 



To show the variety of form assumed by the corms of Ariscema 

 triphyllum, I have outlined a number of these in fig. 10 ; a, b, c, d, e, 

 f and g, all being taken from flowering plants. Some are flat below, 

 c and/, others are convex, d and e. Buds are visible in many cases, 

 z, and even in these flowering plants the appendage, ap., indicative 

 of the origin of the plant, is not always lost. 



In many other respects, this species is extremely interesting. It 

 is remarkable for its variations in size. I have found specimens 



