122 JOURNAL OF THE WASHINGTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES VOL. 11, NO. 5 



produce the first inflorescence, after which the growth becomes sympodial 

 and so continues to a possible extreme and indefinite old age. The sympodial 

 stage is characterized by a succession shoot of but two leaves. In the axil 

 of the first of these leaves a bud lies dormant and is rarely permitted to de- 

 velop further. The terminal bud being converted into an inflorescence, it 

 thus devolves upon the second axillary bud to produce the new terminal and 

 in its turn bear its leaves and surmounting spathe. Barring accident this 

 succession continues ad infinitum. The leaf arrangement, which has always 

 been in question, is difficult to trace, but elongated growths appear from deep 

 seated lateral buds showing a close approximation to the familiar 2/5 cycle. 



Balance between photosynthesis and fruit production is maintained by 

 the regular suppression of most of the inflorescence, this abortion being ap- 

 parently brought about through strangulation due to growth pressure of the 

 leaf bases. 



Contrary to popular opinion the spathe is not of rapid development, dis- 

 sections showing that it is differentiated as much as twenty-seven months in 

 advance of anthesis. There is no means of determining the age of an indi- 

 vidual skunk cabbage, and there is no apparent reason why this plant may 

 not outlive the oldest of the oaks. 



R. G. Pierce, Recording Secretary. 



