THE LOEAKTHACE.E OF CEYLON. 99 



of such rare occurrence as to be negligible, although the seeds are frequently dropped 

 hy birds, feeding on a branch, on the ground beneath. This is Avell siiown in Loranihm 

 Gardneri seeds which I found germinating with stamens of this species adhering to 

 the viscin. 



Matters are more difficult with regard to, and I can speak with less certainty of, the 

 course of events in small seeds such as those of species of Viscum, e. g. Viscum orlentale, 

 and of Notothixos floccosus, Oliver. The difficulty lies in the fact that the viscid layer 

 surrounding the seed is less developed, and therefore even less a means of protection 

 from digestive juices in these cases than in the large-seeded Loranths. Moreover, I have 

 frequently found, as above stated, groups of seeds of such small-seeded Loranths as 

 L. Hooheriamis in the voided excrement of birds on leaves or twigs. Such voided seeds 

 are often quite hollow, proving that the intestinal juices of the birds play havoc with 

 these tender seeds. 



It is then at least highly probable that birds distribute these smaller seeds also by 

 wiping them off their bills, and that they do so to avoid the tannin. Viscum orientals 

 presents a difficulty, in that, as already mentioned, a gentle pressure suffices to jerk the 

 small seed several feet into the air ; if this be of general occurrence, the risk of not 

 falling in " good ground," which is so successfully avoided in other .species, is in this 

 case run. 



Ill, — Germination. 



In this section the modes of germination of various species of Loranthus and Viscum 

 are described. The order in which the members of the Loranthaccai! are here taken 

 is determined by the degree of resemblance the germination bears to that of Viscum 



album. 



Viscum orientale. — The form of fruit and seed will be described in tlic Appendix, 

 rigs. 9 b, c, PI. X., show the hypocotyl with its free swollen head growing from the apical 

 end of the seed. The hypocotyl is rich in chlorophyll and reaches a length of 3 to 4 mm. 

 Viscin is confined to the base of the seed ; hence this latter normally lies prone on the 

 branch, and so the hypocotyl had but a little distance to bend before reaching the 

 branch. The whole seedling when the hypocotyl is fully grown is some 6 to 7 mm. in 

 length and resembles a minute cricket-bat — the hypocotyl representing the handle. The 



seed, as is the case with all the Visciims and Loranths here described, is ready to 

 o-erminate as soon as the fruit is ripe. 



Notothixos floccosus, Oliver. — Fig. 10 c, PI. X., shows a specimen germinating ; hypo- 

 cotyl bright green ; free end not sw ollen into a head, but forming a somewliat convex 

 whitish surface. As in Viscum album &c., and Loranthus species generally, the end of 

 the hypocotyl rapidly swells to a disc before any considerable entry has been made into 

 the host. 



The growth of the hypocotyl is stopped in dry air. The species is peculiar to Ceylon 

 and only found in the moist low country. The slightly biconvex, lens-shaped seed 

 always lies flatly on the branch, so that but little curvature of the hypocotyl occurs. 



L. RookeHanus, Wight & Arn. — The seed is very minute, 3-4 mm. On germinating, 



SECOND SERIES. — BOTANY, VOL. V. P 



