1897.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 169 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIFE HISTORIES OF PLANTS, NO. XII. 



BY THOMAS MEEHAN. 



It will be seen by the dates and references in some of the fol- 

 lowing chapters, that the papers were written long ago. The 

 facts noted have been confirmed by observations made in subsequent 

 years. Some of them have been read at the meetings of the Botani- 

 cal Section of the Academy, and, though requested for publication 

 elsewhere, have been held so as to appear in this series of " Contri- 

 butions." 



Having been written at various times, when the subjects of the 

 sketches were fresh in the mind, there may be some repetition of 

 propositions. This would not have been the case had the papers 

 been prepared continuously. 



THE FECUNDITY OF HELIOPHYTUM INDICUM. 



Heliophytum Indicum, the Heliotrophim Indicum of the older bot- 

 anists, has found its way over all the tropical and subtropical por- 

 tions of the earth. It is at home in Asia, Africa and America, and 

 if it once gets a chance seed into the soil of Europe, will no doubt 

 as easily maintain its hold as other free-seeding typical weeds have 

 done. In some unknown way a few plants appeared in 1894 in my 

 garden, and have afforded me an interesting study. 



Its capacity for seed production is enormous. The cyme-branches 

 that have flowered and have, or will have, perfect seed, represent, 

 August 28th, a line of 1,224 inches. There are twenty seed vessels, 

 that is to say forty seeds to the inch, making a total of 48,960 seeds. 

 The cymes are still vigorously unfolding and flowering, and will 

 probably double these figures, but in uncertainties it is best to be 

 on the safe side; so, allowing but one-third more, we have a length 

 of fruiting rachis of 1,632 inches, and a total seed production of 

 65,280. 



All this has proceeded from a plant that was itself but a seed 

 three months before ! The total length of stem and branches sup- 

 porting these seed-bearing cymes, is but 396 inches. The plant is 

 true to the classical story of Clytie and Phoebus which gave the 

 original genus Heliotrophim its name. It does not open a flower until 



