308 KINGSLEY: SPLITTING OF RHIZOME OF DELPHINIUM 
cluster of thickened fleshy fibres. . . . An interesting species as 
combining the leafless stem of the scarlet flowered Californian D. 
rudicaula with the deep blue flowers of D. azureum.” 
The aerial part consists of leaves whose long petioles arise 
spirally from a restricted underground shoot, and blossoms borne 
on long stalks. These flourish in the brief rainy season and then 
die back, and the next year’s leaves and flowers originate from a 
terminal bud, or from buds found one in the axil of each foliage 
leaf. The perennial part of the plant is subterranean, and is of 
the nature of a rhizome with roots attached. This is the part that 
was particularly studied here. 
On examination of this portion of the plant body, of several 
different specimens, the most apparent characteristic common to 
all is the splitting up into separate members of the rhizome and 
root (FIG. 1). There is no regularity about the number or ar- 
rangement of the resulting columns, nor is their origin as separate 
individuals at an equal distance from the base of the annual shoot. 
In one case a specimen will appear like a miniature tree trunk cov- 
ered with a dark brown barklike formation which easily crumbles 
off. This trunk continues down as one united column for an inch, 
and then abruptly divides into two unequal parts. If a cross 
section of the main trunk were examined immediately before this 
separation (FIG. 2) it would show a peripheral circle made up of 
single columns (in cross section), the central space and divisions 
between which are filled with this same loose brown necrotic 
tissue that surrounds the outside. Shallow grooves can be dis- 
tinguished running longitudinally along the trunk, and continuing 
more deeply cleft in each of the two divisions, so that the first 
consists apparently of four, the second of seven united columns. 
Following these two divisions down a short distance, we find 
them resolving themselves into their component members, or 
groups of two or three, and separating from each other. Each 
of these ultimate branches may continue asit is, or may later divide 
after it has attained a certain secondary growth in thickness. 
Occasionally a splitting apart occurs for a short distance and is 
followed by a complete union of these same members into one 
strand, which leads to the just conclusion that the phenomenon 
is one of splitting of mature organs rather than a peculiarity in 
