164 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1894. 



show, but in a les;s degree, the same arraugenieut. The nuraerical 

 order of the secondary branchlets of the inflorescence, and their 

 general divergence and arrangement, correspond well with the main 

 branchlets of the veins in the leaves, leaving no doubt in the mind 

 of the thoughtful observer of their morphological identity. 



Taking a glance at what occurs in other plants there is analogy 

 for the view here taken. Some Begonias form leaf-buds at the 

 end of their leading veinlets, as do many ferns; and a well known 

 plant in cultivation, Bryophylhoa cahjcinum, is increased mainly by 

 such buds. Morphologically there is no difl'erence between a leat- 

 bud and a flower- bud, so that we may reasonably expect flowers to 

 appear where leaf-buds may exist. And in other respects Bryo- 

 phylluin fortifies the position assumed for the Saxifrage. The leaves 

 appearing at an early stage of growth are entire, and formed much 

 as we find them in Saxij'raga cordata but as the flowering stem pro- 

 gresses towards the flowering stage, the newer leaves become divided, 

 and trifoliate — that is to say, the veins are comparatively destitute of 

 their normal cellular covering, and are on their way to become the 

 pedicels we find in the inflorescence of the Saxifrage. 



I may conclude by reaffirming the proposition already presented, 

 that nature does not depend on one melhod only as a plan for the 

 formation of inflorescence ; that in Saxifruga cordata, and probably 

 in bractless inflorescence generally, the elongation and coiling of 

 stipules or the dilated bases of leaf- stalks form the main axis or stem ; 

 and the leaf- blade the branches, branchlets and flowers. 



On Purple-Leaved Plants. 



A large number of plants occasionally produce individuals with 

 reddish or purple leaves. These are propagated by nurserymen, 

 and are known in gardens as " blood- leaved " trees and shrubs. 

 Thus we have blood-leaved oak, sycamore, beech, barberry and 

 many others. Perpetuated by grafting, these retain the blood- 

 leaved character through life, no variation from this characteristic 

 having been placed on record. 



No attempt to explain this eccentricity seems to have been made. 

 It is well to place together facts that may ultimately lead to an ex- 

 planation. 



In flower paintings the leaves and vegetative parts of plants are 



