100 PR0CEEDINC4S OF THE ACADEMY OF [1899. 



The variations from the one original plant, and all under the 

 same conditions of environment, are very remarkable. In some 

 the leaves are about four inches long by three wide ; that is to say, 

 broadly ovate, while there are some with leaves nine inches long, 

 and from one to two inches wide. In these plants the long linear 

 leaves are obtuse. In others the leaves are some nine inches long, 

 but widest in the middle — these are sharply acute. The leaves are 

 usually entire, but there are a number that are lyrately pinnatifid. 

 In one case the lobing is so deep that the divisions are little more 

 than narrowly winged nerves. In most cases the leaves are flat at 

 the margins, but in a number of cases they are strongly undulate. 

 One of the most striking variations is in the habit of the plant. 

 In the majority of cases the main stem is less than half an inch 

 thick at the base, and grows up rapidly with Avide internodes; in 

 others, the stem will be nearly an inch thick, with little disposition 

 to elongate ; the lateral buds develop to branchlets, and the plant 

 becomes densely bushy, with scarcely any internodes. In these 

 cases the leaves are cuneate at the base. The only characters that 

 seem uniform through this extensive range of variation is the 

 glaucous green of the foliage, the vertical twist to the leaves, and 

 the ridge of bristles along the midrib on its under surface. Surely 

 we may conclude that the variations presented in this case are due 

 to the degree and direction of life energy, and that the common 

 phrases of ' ' cultivation ' ' and ' ' conditions of environment ' ' 

 have no meaning here. 



The vertical plane of the leaves next commands attention. A 

 careful examination of a number of isolated plants soon leads to 

 the conclusion that there is no polarity — as it is generally ex- 

 pressed. The plane of the leaf is in any direction. There are 

 no more in a northward than in a westward line. I am at a 

 loss to imagine how I, in common with other observers, ever 

 believed it could be classed as a " compass plant, ' ' unless it be on 

 the general principle that it is easy to see what we are looking for. 

 In the examination a novel point presented itself. The leaves 

 are vertical instead of horizontal by reason of a twist just above 

 the point of divergence from the stem. But on every plant there 

 are cases of twists in opposite directions. In former " contribu- 

 tions ' ' I have shown that antidromy is common. There could not 

 be secund inflorescence without it. Two or three leaves in this 



