TWO TYPES OF PROLIFERATION IN ALFALFA. 



9 



fact, new aerial shoots reach a considerable degree of development 

 before roots of any importance are sent out from the swellings. 

 There appears to be quite a difference in the plants that arise from 



Fig. 2. — A plant of Medicago falcata (S. I'. I. No. 28071 ) found at Highmore, S. Dak.. 

 May, 1912. The root proliferation is remarkably developed in this plant. 



the proliferous roots with respect to root development ; some develop 

 a crown and root system of their own at an early date, while others 

 rely for an indefinite period on the proliferating roots for their 



vy 



Fig. 3. — Sections of proliferating roots of alfalfa, showing swellings upon which the buds 

 that develop new plants appear. The buds are also sometimes produced from other por- 

 tions of these roots, but so far no shoots have been observed to arise from them. 



support. (See figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7.) This point, however, needs a 

 more thorough investigation, as the number of cases thus far found is 

 insufficient for definite conclusions. 

 79505°— Cir. 115—13 2 



