iqi6] HOFFSTADT— PIPER METHYSTICUM 131 



1 1 . Leaf traces are many. 



12. The base of the leaf is sheathing and vernation is involute. 



13. Buds vary in number and position. 



14. Piper umbellatum differs from Piper methysticum in the 

 following ways: (1) one ring of pith bundles only; (2) the mucilage 

 canal runs through the center of stem and node; (3) the bundles 

 run through one internode only in the periphery and one in the 

 pith before fusing with those of the leaf above. 



15. Both stems are packed, especially when young, with starch, 

 piperin, and mucilage. 



16. There are no growth rings. 



Discussion and conclusions 



The anatomy of Piper methysticum and of Piper umbellatum 

 agree for the most part with the anatomy of the species of Piper 

 already described; especially is this true in reference to the work 

 of De Bray (3; see also De Bary 2). Van Tieghem reports a 

 differentiated endodermis in all species of Piper, but this was 

 lacking in these forms. 



The question of most importance is the relationship shown by 

 these forms. Sinnott and Bailey (13, 14) assert that the most 

 primitive condition of angiosperms was woody, and that there 

 is a tendency toward the herbaceous habit in the more recent 

 groups. These forms show a tendency toward elimination of second- 

 ary growth and a breaking up of the woody cylinder in the following 

 characters: (1) the pericycle is broken and all that remains is 

 a small patch outside of each bundle; (2) the interfascicular cam- 

 bium appears late in the internode and still later in the nodes; 

 when it does occur the activity is primarily on one side; (3) there 

 is a tendency toward the scattering of the bundles in the pith. 

 These, together with the sheathing base of the petiole, the multi- 

 lacunar (Sinnott 13) type of node, and the anastomosing of the 

 bundles at the side, show a monocotyledonous tendency. More- 

 over, the embryo sac of the group shows the elimination of one 

 division in oogenesis. 



One may conclude from this combination of characteristics 

 that Piper methysticum and Piper umbellatum He in a group well 



