Teratological Maljonnation ot Lucerne. 151 



The actual growing points show no special feature, being simply 

 rounded masses of meristematic cells, with large granular nuclei. 

 Careful examination of the bracteate leaves shows them to be small 

 structures not more than two or three layers of cells thick, and 

 varying very much in length, those placed lowest on the axis being 

 the longest. 



A rudimentary vascular strand can be found in all, and in the 

 largest a few spiral and annular vessels are developed. Transverse 

 section shows no distinction into palisade parenchyma and spongy 

 mesophyll, but the internal cells are differentiated from the 

 epidermal by being smaller and having thinner walls. A few of 

 them terminate in a curious unicellular, hair-like projection. The 

 larger bracts show a few stomata, but the most noticeable feature 

 is the extensive deposit of calcium oxalate crystals along the vascular 

 strand. These crystals occur in the same form along the mid-rib 

 of normal foliage leaves, but as the bracts are so much smaller the 

 crystals appear to be more prominent. 



It would be impossible to say whether these bracts represent abor- 

 tive foliage or floral organs. From their position and suggestion 

 of colour they seem to represent the floral whorls. They are indefi- 

 nite in size, number and position, but they appear to wrap round 

 and protect the young growing points. 



Normal hairs occur at the base of a cluster of heads and bracts. 

 These hairs have not suffered in the general abortion, and conse- 

 quently appear rather large in comparison with the rest of the 

 heads. 



Sections. 



Microtome sections of the material were made, and carefully 

 stained and examined. Some of the stains used were methyl, blue^ 

 fuschin, safranin and gentian violet. 



A careful examination made for any sign of parasitic fungi gave 

 a negative result. If there had been any hypha present these should 

 have been clearly stained by the methyl blue or safranin. No 

 hypha could be seen, and the cells showed no sign of disintegration. 

 Staining with concentrated alcoholic solution of Fuschin revealed 

 numerous granules, varying very much in size. These were em- 

 bedded in the cell walls or lining layers of protoplasm. They were 

 most numerous in sections passing through the phloem of vascular 

 bundle of the stems; very few could be distinguished in the 

 very young growing points or the younger bracts. 



