(8 7 ) 



other aquatic plants. At the same time this contraction also 

 serves to secure the anchorage of specimens which have lodged 

 in the mud and penetrated it, and to draw the bulbil down into 

 the loose soil when germination takes place on land. 



The apical bud becomes apogeotropic 

 soon after germination after the manner 

 of a rhizome rather than of the bran< h, 

 and its upward curvature disturbs tin- 

 balance of a floating bulbil in such man- 

 ner that it turns over with the result thai 

 the bud is directed downward. It is 

 soon turned upward, however, by .1 re- 

 verse curvature and this process is re- 

 peated many times until anchorage is 

 secured (Fig. 6). 



The bulbil retains its general relations 

 in polarity by forming roots from tin- 

 basal end primarily and developing tin- 

 apical bud most readily. Modifications 

 amounting to direct reversal o! these re- 

 lations may be made by external condi- 

 tions however. Any one of the grow- 

 ing points in the axils of the bracts may 

 be forced to grow and develop the main 

 axis of a new plant, or the bulbil may 

 be cut into several portions, each of 

 which may give rise to a new plant. 



Fig. 7. Advanced stage p er haps the most interesting feature 

 of germination of bulbil . . ,. .. , . • , 



... ta . of the history of the bulbils is the tact 



which is being converted 1/x ""■' ' J 



into a rhizome. Actual that they do not perish in gel mi mil ion 

 size. an( l J n giving rise to a new individual. 



Bulbs and other modified stems generally consist of a mass of 

 tissue which has reached its full development, while the power 

 of extended growth is retained only by certain generative le- 

 gions. New shoots are formed by the growth of these points 

 and food for their nourishment is withdrawn from the storage 

 tissues of the bulb which soon breaks down and does not par- 

 ticipate further in the history of the new individuals. 



