Teratological Malformation of Lucerne. 153 



insects, the bites of which might very easily have caused 

 the proliferation of growing points. 

 3. The tissues do not seem to be infected with bacteria, and 

 the cells do not show abnormality of size or shape, which 

 is usually the case in the presence of bacteria. 

 The abnormal starch grains and proteid granules point to 

 abnormal nutrition, and the fact that both specimens came from 

 -dry country, and were produced during a drought period, may 

 possibly have something to do with the cause. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE X. 



Fig. 1. — Stem leaf and infloresence of abnormal plant. 

 ,, 2. — Inflorescence of normal lucerne (Medicago sativa). 

 ,, 3. — Head of abnormal material, showing growing points and 



bracteate leaves (magnified low power). 

 ,, 4. — Section of growing points and bracteate leaves (magnified 



low power). 

 ;,, 5. — Single bracteate leaves (magnified high power). 

 ^, 6. — Section showing proteid granules (magnified high power), 

 ^, 7. — Section showing starch grains (magnified high power). 



