84 • SELECTED NOTES FROM 



Dodder and its Host. — The Dodders (Cuscula) are parasitic on 

 such plants as clover, nettle, hops, etc. Most of the species are 

 annuals dying away in autumn. Before that time, however, the 

 seeds have burst explosively from the seed vessels, and have been 

 scattered hither and thither by the wind. All the winter they lie 

 dormant in the ground, sheltered, in many cases, by decaying 

 leaves, which supply a suitable soil for germination, which does 

 not take place until comparatively late in the following year, not 

 before the nettles and hops have acquired some strength of stem. 

 From the seed proceeds a little club-shaped root, which seeks the 

 soil, but the young stem remains surrounded by the seed-hooks 

 and the store of nutriment which they contain. It grows thin as 

 a thread, and somewhat spirally at the expense of the seed-stores, 

 which, however, is soon exhausted ; the thin stem then seeks for 

 some plant on which to cling. If this be not found, the stem at 

 length lies prostrate on the ground, and after a strange dormant 

 existence for a month or so dies ; but if some plant be near at 

 hand, the dodder plant clings around it after the manner of a 

 climbing plant. So soon as the stem has embraced that of its 

 bearer — say, a nettle or hop plant — it throws out attaching papillae, 

 which penetrate the bark or cuticle, and sends out numerous little 

 rootlets. These come into close connection with the bast portion 

 of the hop or nettle stem, and from thence absorb nutrition. 

 Now, the vessels of the bast form the channels by which the 

 organic substances manufactured in the leaves pass towards the 

 root. Such are the spoils which the leafless dodder, unable to 

 manufacture organic material for itself, absorbs from its host. 

 After suitable attachment has been effected, the stem continues its 

 twining growth with increased vigour, and all connection with the 

 soil is lost, and eventually the parasite bursts into flower. — From 

 Gedde's Chapters on Modcfn Botany. 



Leaf of Durio Zibethinus.— On the underside of the leaves are 

 found two varieties of stellate hairs, there being first one or two 

 layers with many rays, and under these a layer with only a few 

 rays. 



Leaf of Deutzia scabra.— These leaves are usually either 

 mounted dry as an opaque object, or decolourised and stained, or 

 the cuticle only may be mounted. The specimen now sent is 



