82 



MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



in etiolated stipes, and the epidermal cells are excessively elon- 

 gated, showing a length of 20 as compared with 12 in the normal ex- 

 amples. In this instance the epidermal cells appear to keep pace 

 with the excessive growth of the stipe, although such correlation is 

 of doubtful significance. Some chlorophyl was present, giving the 

 etiolated specimens a distinct green color, in accord with the be- 

 havior of all other ferns examined. Torsions were observed in the 

 stipes of all etiolated examples of Botrychium. It was also notice- 

 able that the midribs of the pinnae were thicker than in the normal. 

 The grooves usually present on the upper surfaces of normal midribs 

 were lacking in etiolated specimens. 



Bowiea volubilis Harv. 

 Bojviea volubilis is a singular type of a xerophyte. It forms a 

 large bulb with heavy green scales, from the central axis of which 

 usually arises a scape i to 2 meters in length, bearing small lilia- 

 ceous flowers. The base of this aerial shoot is usually sheathed with 

 two or three small bract-like leaves which arise from it at points 

 below emergence from the scales. 



Fig. "jS. Etiolated culture of Bo-viea and normal branch. 



Bulbs, which had rested properly during the summer of 1900, 

 were placed under cultural conditions in the dark chamber in Sep- 

 tember. Three shoots were sent up from a single bulb, reaching a 



