Structure, etc., of Epiphegus Virgintana. 353 



The degeneration of this plant is extreme and funda- 

 mental. Evidences of it are found in every structure pos- 

 sessed by the plant. Among its degraded characteristics are 

 the loss of chlorophyll, the reduction of leaves to small 

 scales, the rudimentary roots, the extremely simple dicoty- 

 ledonous stem-structure, the cleistogamy of the more modi- 

 fied of the two flower-types, and the reduced undifferenti- 

 ated embryo. 



General Description and Mode of Occurrence. 



In searching for Epiphegus Virginiana, the varying char- 

 acter of the soil in which the plant flourishes is a source of 

 constant surprise. Often in sterile regions, quite stony, 

 under beeches, Epiphegus grows alone ; then again, the soil 

 may be a rich leaf mould, the home of many other species 

 of plants. It is possible to find just as strong, tall, well- 

 developed specimens of beech-drops under the former as 

 well as under latter conditions. 



It is curious to note also how the beech-drops often are 

 confined to somewhat circumscribed areas. One may find 

 a beech-tree around which numerous patches of Epiphegus 

 are grouped ; its neighbor may be without any. Then, again, 

 the plants may be so scattered and at such a distance from 

 the nearest beech, that one at first inclines to the supposition 

 that the plant may be parasitic on other species than the 

 beech. 



The principal localities studied have been in the vicinity 

 of Philadelphia. These were the eastern side of the Wissa- 

 hickon, from Allen Lane to Thorp's Lane ; the woods in the 

 neighborhood of Crescentville ; those near Lansdowne and 

 Clifton, and a secluded corner in Woodlands Cemetery. 



Epiphegus seems somewhat local in its occurrence. For 

 example, there are many places on the Wissahickon where 

 beeches were quite numerous, but no trace of the parasite 

 could be found. This condition of afifairs was also noticed 



