Observations on the Structure and Develop= 

 ment of Epiphegus Virginiana* 



(FROM PIRATES XXIX-XXXII) 



By Ethel Cooke, B. S., and Adeline F. Schively, Ph. D. 



Epiphegus Virginiana is a parasitic plant of Eastern 

 America, to which frequent reference has been made in 

 descriptive botanical works. It was first described by Lin- 

 naeus in 1753, under the name Orohanche Virginiana. Later 

 it was described under varying names, Epiphegus, Leptam- 

 nion, etc., by Nuttall, Rafinesque and others. No exact 

 detailed comparative study of the plant was made until 

 1894, when Dr. Herman Schrenk published a paper entitled 

 "Parasitism of Epiphegus Virginiana," in the Proceedings 

 of the American Microscopical Society. 



Epiphegus Virginiana (Plate XXIX), commonly known 

 as"Beech-drops," is a member of the dicotyledonous family 

 Orobanchacese, allied by Warming to the Gesneracese, 

 though the order is undoubtedly very close to the Scrophu- 

 lariacese. It is parasitic on the roots of our common beech- 

 tree, Fagus Americana. As a result of this parasitism, it 

 has become extremely reduced and degraded. The mature 

 plant is scarcely more than a mere inflorescence. Epiphegus 

 illustrates well that general law of plant and animal para- 

 sitism, that reproduction becomes the chief function of the 

 organism. 



♦The above study was begun, and material in part collected, by Dr. 

 Macfarlane in the summer of 1895. The work was continued by the 

 second-named of the writers, but want of leisure prevented the investi- 

 gation of microscopic details. At Dr. Macfarlane's suggestion the first- 

 named of us undertook this, and brought it to the present stage of 

 completion. — E. C. and A. F. S. 



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