THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. ■— 



'trunk, its chief support is derived from the numerous roots which it af- 

 fixes to the trunk. It ascends to the height of many yards, and .'then 

 'spreads out to a considerable distance over such horizontal supports. as it 

 'may encounter. The presence of these fixation roots and the, fact that 

 it 'survives for a considerable period after its earth connection has been 

 severed have suggested the idea that it is parasitic or epiphytic, or both. 

 'It 'is not clear just what are the relative degrees of importance of its 

 • aerial and terrestrial nutrition, but it is pretty clearly 

 established, especially by the observations of Mr. Charles 

 E. Hires, of Philadelphia, that it cannot long survive after its earth- 

 connection is severed, unless it is able, as is usually the case, to drop down 

 secondary aerial roots, and by this means to establish again a terrestrial 

 support. At the same time we are not entirely without testimony to the 

 continued existence of plants after the decay of their basal portions, and 

 with no other attachment than to the supporting tree. Like most plants of 

 its class, it is fleshy and succulent, and well able to resist accidents of this 

 kind. Its branches readily take root if brought into contact with the soil, 

 and this habit is taken advantage of in its artificial propagation by cuttings. 

 Its stem is as thick as the finger, and its leaves are large, oblong, thick 

 and fleshy and very numerous upon the horizontal branches, which are 

 exposed to the light and air. It is these exposed leafy branches, the growth 

 of that year, which constitute the sole flower and fruit-producing portion. 

 There appears to be a very narrowly limited admixture of light and shade 

 which affords the most favorable conditions for flowering, pollination and 

 perfection of the fruit. A lesser proportion of shade, will often make the 

 plant thrive better, but will affect adversely its production of fruit. Too 

 much shade, on the other hand, will often result in subjecting the plant 

 itself to destructive fungus disease. 



The flowers are born in axillary racemes of, some 15 to 20, and they 

 are of a pale greenish white or cream-color and pleasantly fragrant. Nature 

 has taken special care that the flowers shall not be self-pollinated, as she 

 has interposed a well-developed blade of tissue, the labellum, between the 

 pollen and the stigma, preventing all natural contact between them, and 

 causing them to depend for their pollination upon the visits of insects, 

 this mode invariably resulting in cross-pollination. This fact renders it 

 quite certain that the constant introduction of new vital elements from 

 other plants is necessary for the well-being of the species and leads to the 

 inference that it is only a question of time when the habit of propagating 

 exclusively by cuttings will result in serious vital deterioration, as has 

 resulted with the sugar-cane, and necessitate the renewal of the stock 

 from carefully produced seedlings. It has been ascertained that, due either 

 to a scarcity of the necessary insects or from the action of some obscure 



