138 



Trangactions. 



forms a band of tissue only slightly wider than the phloem. The vessels 

 are numerous and of large diameter, and their walls are not ver}- thick. 

 Separating the rows of vessels are wood-fibres. 



The pith is solid, and consists of large thin-walled cells which are closely 

 packed together, so that there are only very small air-spaces at the corners 

 Near the xylem the pith-cells are smaller. 



Fig. 1. — Hymenanthera dentata var. alpina. Entire young plant ( X h) 



12. Hymenanthera dentata R. Br. var. alpina Kirk 

 Growth-form. — This plant is a low, much-branched, rigid shrub, 1-2 ft 

 high, with tortuous or zigzag interlacing branches ; 

 densely compacted, and end in stout spines 

 fascicled, thick and coriaceous, |— | in. long, linear-obovate, with entire or 

 irregularly lobed margins. The petioles are very short. A young plant is 

 illustrated in fig. 1. 



the branches are 

 The leaves are alternate or 



