OF THE GENUS ULEX. 35 



function to a much greater degree than the ordinary leaves of 

 a Furze plant. It was interesting to note that the leaves, instead 

 of standing straight out, as is the case normally, were curved 

 downwards in such a way as to expose the largest amount of sur- 

 face to the light. 



Another seedling which I took and planted at the same time 

 was a second year's seedling from the same place. During its 

 first year this seedling had developed a main axis ten cm. long, 

 with twelve trifoliate leaves, four difoliate ones, and thirty-one 

 linear, lanceolate spiny leaves. In the axil of each leaf, except the 

 trifoliate ones, was a spiny branch with a well-formed spine. On 

 being kept in a warm room with a plentiful supply of water, there 

 appeared, in the axils of six of the lower trifoliate leaves, primary 

 branches, which reached the length of 30, 27, 17, 10, 2*5, and 

 1*5 cm. respectively, being much longer than they would have 

 become under normal conditions. These had already commenced 

 to grow when the seedling was planted, but were then extremely 

 short. The shortest of the branches, 1*5 cm. long only, had 

 developed when the seedling was planted two opposite, linear, 

 lanceolate leaves, followed by seven leaves of the same shape 

 arranged spirally. On subsequent growth in the house trifoHate 

 and difoliate leaves only were developed, but the growth of this 

 branch was soon stopped through being shaded by the others. 



On the branch 27 cm. long there were, to start with, two oppo- 

 site linear leaves at the base, followed by five linear leaves in a 

 spiral, and then six trifoliate leaves, with very short internodes, 

 also in a spiral, the branch being only i cm. long. On being 

 brought into the house it commenced by producing twelve trifoli- 

 ate leaves, with gradually increasing internodes ; then fifty Hnear, 

 lanceolate leaves, gradually becoming narrower towards the tip, 

 but none of them developing any stiffness or any pronounced 

 spine. In the axils of the three lowest trifoliate leaves no branches 

 were developed. In the axils of the next three leaves primary 

 branches were developed which did not terminate in spines, but 

 in a bud. In the axils of the other trifoliate leaves and the linear 

 leaves, rudimentary spiny branches were produced, without, 

 however, any very pronounced spinescent character. The four 

 remaining primary spiny branches presented the same modifica- 



