354 Cooke and Schively on Observations on the 



at Eagle's Mere, also along the Rancocas Creek in New 

 Jersey. 



All early stages of Epiphegus were obtained more suc- 

 cessfully in Woodlands Cemetery than elsewhere; possibly 

 because the soil was loose in texture and there were com- 

 paratively few roots of plants other than the beech. 



In the middle of June, the plants are found as minute 

 white tubercles attached below to a slender rootlet of the 

 beech-tree. They are quite smooth and spherical, and are as 

 yet entirely lacking in any external differentiation. At this 

 time they are from one-sixteenth inch to one-quarter inch 

 in diameter. 



In July they are found to be considerably enlarged and 

 developed. They consist of a short, stout tuber-like struc- 

 ture, about an inch in length. It tapers smoothly above, and 

 on its broadened basal portion gives off a number of short 

 stiff curving roots, which are unbranched as yet. Above 

 these roots, numerous overlapping scale-leaves cover the 

 surface of the tuber. In the axils of the upper leaves appear 

 the young developing flowers. 



During the next few weeks a remarkably rapid growth 

 occurs, so that in August the plant may be found in a fairly 

 mature state. It may reach a height of eighteen inches, 

 though it usually ranges from about six to twelve inches in 

 length. In the mature plant, the stem is differentiated into 

 two distinct regions — the tuber and the aerial stem. The 

 tuber is the enlarged underground structure ; it appears to be 

 a central organ for the entire plant in its physiological activi- 

 ties as well as in its structural relations. It is through this 

 tuber that the parasitic connection with the beech root is 

 maintained. On its lower surface the tuber gives off the 

 numerous short stiff branching roots. These roots do not 

 extend far in any direction, but bend and turn about within 

 a comparatively short radius. They branch freely, often a 

 single root will branch three or four times. They are very 

 stiff and rigid in texture. Scattered over the upper surface 



