Cockayne. — Development of Seedlings. 377 



even greater differences occur — differences of shape, colour, 

 size, and toothing. This great variation from seed throws a 

 little light on the fact that such a great number of distinct 

 wild forms of this species are to be met with, a species whose 

 individuals do not reproduce themselves with any exactitude, 

 while the species consequently reproduces itself still less ex- 

 actly. The consequence is that, while certain forms maintain 

 themselves intact, new variations must be of constant occur- 

 rence. I hope to return to this subject on some future occa- 

 sion. When I have examined more material, and experi- 

 mented with it under varying conditions, then it may be 

 possible to fix limits of variation, and to adduce some reason 

 for the occurrence of certain forms. Cuttings from adult 

 plants put forth shoots with leaves of the seedling type. 

 The hairs on the young leaves tend to retain moisture on 

 the surface of the leaves for some time. 



No. 336, Veronica elliptica, Forst. 



(Var. with very large leaves.) 



Seed gathered at Bluff, from plant exposed to sea-spray. 

 Only two seedlings. Germination was very irregular. 



Description of Seedling. 



Hypocotyle very short, hardly to be distinguished from 

 the root. 



Cotyledons quite succulent, convex on under-surface, ob- 

 long, obtuse, with short thick connate succulent petioles. 



1st pair of leaves oblong, obtuse, entire, minutely hairy ; 

 lamina rather large and tapering into the petioles ; petioles 

 connate and swollen at the base. 



2nd pair of leaves oblong or obovate-oblong, obtuse, with 

 one or two faint teeth on each side ; petiole short and more 

 narrow than in 1st leaf, minutely hairy. 



3rd pair of leaves obovate, shining, 1-toothed on each side; 

 teeth opposite, half-way towards rounded apex, the toothing 

 making a rounded lobe towards upper end of leaf ; lamina 

 patent, channelled down middle on upper surface ; midrib 

 evident on under-surface. 



4th pair of leaves (in process of development) ciliated 

 towards tips, and with two teeth on each side. 



Stem pink, terete, bifariously hairy; internodes 3mm. 

 long. 



No. 402. Veronica tetrasticha, Hook. f. Plate XXXIV., 

 figs. 55, 56, 57, 58. 



Seed collected from plants growing on the Craigieburn 

 Mountains, on shingle slips, at altitude of from 1,200 m. to 

 1,500 m. Germination was slow. 



