TIIK .MAIJVLAND ("VCADS. 417 



meter; orfiansconslilutiiijz: tlieiiniuu- procccdiiiii- al a rijilil angkMo t lie axis 

 except al)()ve. where they ai'e ascending, ami near the base, where they are 

 sometmies sli<ihtl\- (l(>sceii(hii;ti; leaf scars ai'raii.^ed in two series of spiral 

 rows crossiiiij; each othei- usually at a dift'ercnt aiijiic to the axis of the 

 trunk, the an<2;lc> varying from 'M)° to To'''; scars usually sul)i'homhic, i. e., 

 with the lat(M-al angles neai'ly equal and the vertical ones unequal, the 

 lower more acute than theuppei-, th{> lattei- often I'cduccd to a mere gi-oove 

 or wanting entii-elv, and the two uppei- sides together forming an ai'ch, 

 tlic whole seal' simulating a di'awn how and bowstring, hut sonu'times 

 triangular, the upper sides joined along a h(jrizontal line or more irregular 

 in shape, occasionally with four ciu'ved sides and four acute angles; the 

 width as repi-esented by a line joining the two latei'al angles varying 

 from 15 to 25 mm., and the height as represented by a line joining (he two 

 vertical angles (which would rarely be |)arallcl to the axis of the trunk) 

 varying from 6 to 15 mm.; remains of the petioles usually present in the 

 scars at different distances from the summit, often beai'ing evidence of 

 having been disarticulated at a natural joint, sometimes indicating the 

 existence of two such joints at different depths in the scars, and showing 

 that these joints consist of a diaphragm aci'oss the petiole which maj^ 

 remain after the substance of the petiole has pai'tly decayed below it, 

 leaving a hollow space, portions of the outermost diaphragms also some- 

 times adhering to the sides of the scars in the form of a ridge surrounding 

 them; vascular bundles rarely visible under an ordinary lens, but occa- 

 sionally seen in the form of a row near the outer margin all round the 

 leaf base with a few near the center; ramentum walls usually rather 

 thick, but varying from less than 1 mm. to 9 mm., ordinarily with a 

 more or less distinct line marking the junction of the parts belonging to 

 adjacent petioles (commissure), sometimes with a distinct plate or layer 

 .jDf less compact tissue between these, occasionally but rarely affecjted 

 wdth pits or small bract scars, especially in the angles; reproductive 

 organs usually abundant, often solid and protruding, generally more or 

 less distinctl,y marked in the center by the remains of the essential 

 organs and surrounded by bract scars in several concentric rows, but 

 often decayed in various degrees, leaving corresponding funnel-shaped 

 cavities, commonly elliptical in cross section, wider than high, very vari- 

 able in size, the major axis 15 to 40 mm. and the minor 10 to 30 mm.; 



MON XLVIIl — 0.5 27 



