SPIRANTHES. 



209 



axils where there are no huds, the roots are wanting, and the 

 contrary. This circumstance as well as the central bundle of 

 vessels, and the hairy cuticle, make it matter of certainty that 

 they do not belong to the axis but are real roots, which like the 

 capillary roots in many plants break forth from the axis. These 

 remarks all apply to the plant in autumn. 



In spring, towards the end of May, we find the tuft of leaves 

 even to its first sheath still entire. The new pseudo-tubers have 



Fig. 2. 

 Spiranthes a tumnalie. 



burst through the base of the leaves which covered them. The buds 

 in the axils of the upper leaves which have all attained their full 

 size, six to ten in number, are larger, the upper being the most 

 developed which stands near the peduncle, which is still sur- 

 rounded by some sheaths. The pseudo-tubers of the former year 

 begin to shrivel ; the stem is commonly quite decayed. In the 

 middle of June the new pseudo-tubers are full-grown ; the old ones 

 as well as the tuft of leaves, of which the lower are dry, gradually 

 fade ; the new peduncle as well as the bud which stands near to 

 it, which will produce the new tuft of leaves, increases at a later 

 period, and thus the plant again commences its annual cycle. 



Spiranthes autumnalis has then a very short basal axis, which 

 is terminated by the peduncle. Numerous leaves stand on it 



