166 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Dec. 



of instances, through following the development of the in- 

 dividual from seedling to mature plant that the real structure of 

 the subterranean stem-portions may be ascertained. The 

 beginning of the formation of the rhizome, the location of the 

 overwintering buds, the numerous modifications observable in 

 the root-system, the structure of the foliage, etc., all these points 

 deserve equally as much attention as the floral organs; they 

 really deserve a place in the general diagnosis of the species. 

 But it is a slow process to study and follow these various phases 

 of plant life in nature, besides much literary research is 

 involved. 



Having been called upon to contribute a paper to the 

 Ottawa Naturalist, I thought that it might be appropriate to 

 present a brief sketch of some of the various types of seedlings 

 which I have observed in this country, in the hope that some of 

 the Canadian botanists might take the matter up and continue. 

 At the same time I take the opportunitv to insert some drawings 

 which m.ight serve to illustrate some of the characteristics of 

 these seedlings; if sometimes too elementary, the text as well 

 as- the figures, I inust ask for indulgence on the part of the 

 reader. 



Of the two large classes, of phaenogamous plants, Monocoty- 

 ledones and Dicotyledones , as proposed by Ray, the former germ- 

 inate with a single, the latter mostly with two cotyledons; there 

 are, however, several exceptions. In certain plants the seedling 

 resembles a thallus, consisting merely of a globular mass of 

 cellular tissue with no root, stem or leaf, as for instance in 

 OrchidecB, Monoiropa, Orobanche, etc., and finally among the 

 Dicotyledones there are some cases where only one cotyledon 

 becomes developed, the other being either rudimentary or 

 totally wanting. But, common to both classes, when the 

 germination begins the primary root is generally the first organ 

 which appears, then follows the hypocotyl, and after this the 

 cotyledons. Moreover, we find in both classes two t^'pes of 

 cotyledons: above ground or epigeic, and subterranean or 

 hypogeic ; in the former of these, which is the most frequent, 

 the cotyledons are leaf-like, green and thin, provided with 

 stomata, and are thus able to assimilate: in the latter the 

 cotyledons remain mostly enclosed by the seed; they are pale, 

 fleshy, thick, and frequently grown together. These hypogeic 

 cotyledons, especially characteristic of seeds without endosperm, 

 are the bearers themselves of the reserve food-substance. In 

 Pinus the cotyledons combine both types, since they at first 

 serve as organs to absorb the endosperm, and subsequently 

 beconie organs of assimilation; or the cotyledons contain some 

 food-material and begin the function of assimilation as soon as 



