184 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL. X, NO. 6. 



THE STEM. 



The stout stem, which bears the rosette of leaves, is cylindrical. In the older internodes 

 several strata of cork have replaced the epidermis, while in the younger portions the epidermis 

 is still preserved and consists of thinwalled cells. From epidermis to the center of the internode 

 a large parenchyma is developed of very uniform structure, and not interrupted by any sheaths 

 of collenchyma, endodermis or stereome. In other words the peripheral cortex passes insensibly 

 over into the central pith. Both tissues are thinwalled and contain raphides and deposits of 

 starch, but in some of the outermost strata of the cortex (in younger internodes) chlorophyll 

 was, also, observed. The outer mestome-bundles are arranged in several peripheral and concen- 

 tric bands, while the inner ones, the most numerous, are scattered among each other in no order. 

 A thinwalled parenchyma-sheath is developed around each mestome-bundle, but otherwise their 

 structure is somewhat different. The peripheral bands are of more or less typical, collateral 

 structure, while the inner ones are very variable, representing several transitions from almost 

 collateral to strictly lepto-centric, with a number of wide, reticulated vessels inclosing the 

 leptome completely. The structure of the older internodes, which we have thus examined 

 reminds more of that of a rhizome than of a stem above-ground; we mention this, because Mr. 

 Maxon, who collected the specimens and who found the plant in great abundance, did not notice 

 any such large stem-portion above ground as figured in Curtis's Botanical Magazine (1. a). The 

 stems were in accordance with his observations mostly subterranean, and the leaves of the 

 rosette were not recurved, but ascending to almost erect. 



THE SCAPE. 



The long internode that bears the inflorescence is cylindric and almost glabrous. A thin 

 but distinct cuticle covers the epidermis, consisting of long rectangular cells when viewed en 

 face. Stomata with one pair of subsidiary cells parallel with the stoma are arranged in 

 longitudinal rows alternating with strata in which clavate hairs and short, roundish papillae 

 occur. In cross-sections the cells of epidermis show a prominent thickening of the outer walls. 

 Underneath epidermis are many broad groups of thickwalled collenchyma. The cortex contains 

 much chlorophyll, but occupies only a small portion of the scape; it extends to the epidermis 

 between the collehchymatic strands. A sheath of very thinwalled stereome surrounds the central 

 cylinder and borders directly on the innermost strata of the cortical parenchyma; it consists 

 of about four layers and separates the cortex from the pith. The mestome-bundles constitute 

 one peripheral band of about thirty-five, and several inside these, but apparently scattered. The 

 peripheral are approximately V-shaped and contain several wide reticulated vessels and a lacune 

 with the remnants of a ring-vessel; besides being surrounded by the stereomatic sheath, as 

 mentioned above, they have, furthermore, a few layers of more thickwalled stereome on the 

 leptome-side. The central mestome-bundles did not show any mechanical support; they traverse 

 the pith, which is compact but very thinwalled. 



THE LEAVES. 



The green leaves have a broad lanceolate and acuminate blade and a short sheath; their 

 length averages about 15 centimeters, their width about -i centimeters. Epidermis of the dorsal 

 face shows a very characteristic structure. Viewed en face the outer wall of many of the cells 

 shows a number of minute roundish warts (PI. VIII, fig. 48) covered by a thin, perfectly smooth 

 cuticle; the shape of the cells is hexagonal with straight radial walls. Stomata abound on this 

 fare of the blade (the dorsal); they have one pair of subsidiary cells parallel with the stoma, and 

 one pair vertical on this, thus the stoma is surrounded by four cells, all containing chlorophyll. 

 Hairs are frequent; they are composed of three cells, of which the apical is quite long and obtuse. 

 Besides these obtuse hairs, some others with the apical cell sharply pointed and curved occur 

 along the leaf-margins, rendering these very scabrous. The ventral epidermis shows the same 

 structure of the cells, but no stomata or hairs were observed here. 



