Cermination of Elephantorrhiza Burchelii 215 



A NOTE ON THE GERMINATION OF THE SEED 

 OF ELEPHANTORRHIZA BURCHELLIU Bth. 



By Joan Hofmeyr. 



The following note on the germination of the seed of the 

 ** Eland's Boentje " (Elephantorrhiza Burchelliu Benth.) 

 appears to be of sufficient interest to warrant being placed on re- 

 cord. 



Several seeds were planted in damp sawdust on August 20th, 

 1920, after a previous soaking of 24 hours, in warm water. Five 

 days after planting a structure resembling the radicle made its 

 appearance and began to elongate, and on the 30th August 

 measured 1 J/2 inches long. On September 4th, i.e. two weeks 

 after planting a distinct swelling was observed on the elongated 

 structure and for about 1 3 days the swelling gradually increased 

 in size. A shoot pierces through the tissues of the swelling and in 

 about 10 days appears above the soil. This is the shoot which 

 eventually develops the bipinnate leaves of the adult plant. 

 Meanwhile rootlets are given off from the lower portion of the 

 swelling which all the time has been increasing in size to form the 

 huge underground rootstock so characteristic of the species. 



The above observations show that a peculiar and rather un- 

 usual type of germination is found in the species. 



A careful examination of the seed in various stages of germi- 

 nation brought the follov^ng points to light: — 



( 1 ) The seed has two large fleshy cotyledons enclosed in a 

 leathery seed-coat. 



(2) When germination has commenced it was found that no 

 plumule was present between the cotyledons as was ex- 

 pected. 



(3) The radicle-like structure is really a hollow cotyledonary 

 tube which carries the plumule and radicle down into the 

 soiL 



