MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



129 



nana, N. -poctictis and ^V. tazetta were cultivated in the dark cham- 

 bers and the resuhs obtained from the three species were so nearly 

 uniform that no separate discussion is needed for each. 



The leaves attained a length more or less in excess of the normal 

 in all instances, and showed a somewhat attenuated epidermis with 

 functional stomata. The air spaces were not so large as in the 

 normal, and the sheathing scales at the base were longer. The 

 leaves normally assume a position nearly erect, but in the etiolated 

 plants these organs soon become decumbent and prostrate. Their 

 width is fully equal to that of the normal. 



The inflorescence axis normally 

 exceeds the leaves in length, or at- 

 tains a length about equal to them. 

 The stalks show a large lysigenetic 

 central cavity which was not so large 

 in the etiolated stalks. The etiolated 

 inflorescence axes did not reach a 

 length of more than half of the 

 normal, and the flowers scarcely ad- 

 vanced beyond the stage in which 

 they are to be found in the normal 

 buds just emerged from the bulbs. 

 The inflorescence was enclosed in a 

 complete sheathing scale which did 

 not open. In no instance did the 

 flowers emerge or assume a norm.al 

 aspect. 



Onoclea sensibilis L. 



Rhizomes of Onoclea taken from 

 the soil in March, soon developed 

 long stipes with the laminar portion 

 rolled up. The stipe reached a 

 length of 70 to 80 cm., while in the 

 normal it did not measure more 

 than half this length. The increase 

 in length was accompanied by an 

 excessive increase in thickness due 

 to the exaggeration of the funda- ^ o ., . ' ' ' ^ ^ 



^^ Fig. S5. Etiolated culture of Onoclea 



mental tissue. The gamosteles were sensibHis. 



