330 Schively — Contributions to the Life History of 



which are located just below the style. Sometimes a stamen, 

 with a well-formed anther is found upon the other side of 

 the ovary away from the style. It is probable that this does 

 not take part in the work of fertilization. 



Subterranean fruits may result from the flowers originally 

 formed under ground, and from others, which result from 

 flowers produced by shoots above ground, and eventually 

 covered by soil, or succeed in reaching a dark place where 

 they mature fruit. 



Darwin " (page 503), refers to the actual penetration of the 

 flower bearing apex into the soil. Repeated observations 

 have been made, but the writer has not been able to satisfy 

 herself that this occurs unaided. In the green-house, a thick 

 layer of loose soil was placed over the cinders covering the 

 shelf, but the shoots simply spread over the surface, some- 

 times for a distance of several feet. If a small hole were 

 made a short distance from the tip of a shoot, it would soon 

 turn down into it. 



Often a favorable spot for concealment would be under a 

 flower pot. In their efforts to seek darkness, some runners 

 extended over the sides of the shelf, upon which they were 

 placed in the greenhouse, and continued to grow to the 

 floor, a distance of at least four feet. They matured fruit 

 here, some hiding among cinders ; upon others soil was 

 placed. If the tips do not find a place suited to their liking, 

 they either dry up or produce a tiny flat green legume. 



It seems probable, that in nature, earthworms assist in 

 burying the flowers ; there are, too, crevices, stones, or 

 leaves which afford the desired protection ; the beating of the 

 rain, perhaps, may cause the tip to become covered. Having 

 once secured a proper place, growth in length will continue, 

 for some time, even in the soil, if that is loose in character. 



Indications of the presence of subterranean flowers, pro- 

 duced upon cotyledonary shoots, may be seen on a plant 

 six or eight weeks after its germination. Those upon the 

 over-ground branches are much later in appearing. The pos- 

 sibilities of production upon the former seem unlimited. As 



