244 -4. D. Hardy.- Teratological Notes. 



of the axis, and almost laterally connate. This was noticed in 7 of 

 the 19 plants examined. 



In the case of Pittosporurn tenui folium, the arrangement of the 

 five cotyledons before expansion was noted. They were curled up 

 within the seed, like straps rolled with flat surfaces in contact, but, 

 as shown in the drawing, there was provision for radially symmetric 

 growth after expansion; the outer leaves being slightly shorter than 

 the inner, with petioles twisted obliquely in order to have the blades 

 in mutual contact. The members, after artificial withdrawal 

 from the seed coat, separated with a knife and immersed in- water, 

 soon assumed an approach to the radial form. This observation 

 makes less tenable the fission theory of multiplication of linear 

 cotyledonary leaves. (See Figs. 23 and 24 a, h.) 



The many instances of seedling abnormalities given above, and a 

 review of records by Avebury (Lubbock), Mueller, Masters. Guppy, 

 Duchartre, Bailey, Schrenk, etc. (their observations affecting culti- 

 vated plants chiefly), leads one to think that there is ground for 

 further interesting inquiry among the seedlings of native plants 

 in their habitats. F. V. Mueller's 1 investigation, in 1882, of poly- 

 cotyly in New Zealand species of the genus Persoonia, resulted in 

 the surprising record of there being amongst 23 species examined 

 only four with dicotylous seedlings; and. he wrote: "It may he 

 fairly assumed that in the genus as a whole the pluricotyledonary 

 embryo by far preponderates." This fact adds interest to the data 

 given for Pittosporurn nigrescens mentioned above, and perhaps to 

 observations on other species such as P. tennufolium and P. 

 undulatum. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE. 



Figs. 1 to 5 — Coprosma lucida. 



,, 6 and 7 — Eucalyptus radiate. 



„ 8, 9 and 10— E. Risdoni. 



,, 11 and 12 — Dillwynia cinerascens. 



,, 13 and 14 — Acacia stricta. 



,, 1") to 18 — Pittosporurn Buchanianum 



„ 19 —P. tenuifolium. 



„ 20 —P. Buchanianum. 



„ 21 and 22 — Daucus carota. 



,, 23 and 24— Pittosporurn tenuifolium. 



,, 25 — Linaria (purpurea ?). 



,, 26 Eucalypl us cornuta. 



Note. All figures semi-diagrammatic. 



N.Z. Jour. Sc. [., p 1! 



