* CANNON: GERMINATION OF PHORADENDRON 437 
were derived from its seeds. This habit is of much use to the 
collector, since he has but to mark a tree in which a large bunch 
of mistletoe is growing in the top, and if there is sufficient growth 
beneath, he is sure to find at the proper time of the year an abun- 
dance of seedlings. 
Thus it must frequently happen that the mistletoe seeds ger- 
minate without having”been first passed through the alimentary 
tract of birds, and, in fact, although I did not determine more 
closely the conditions under which they best germinate, these do 
not appear to be other than that the seeds must be mature. A 
large amount of heat is not required, and also it may be that germi- 
nation is not dependent on rains. 
In February, March and April germinating seeds of both 
species of mistletoe were seen in great abundance. The seedlings 
were found on all portions of the mesquite, including leaves, and 
on cat-claw and ash. That is, the seeds germinated on the old 
bark at the base of the tree as well as on last year’s growth. I 
observed them also on dead twigs that were detached from any 
tree, on mesquite thorns, and even on the mistletoe itself. Also 
seedlings of P. californicum were taken from branches of the ash 
whither the seeds had been carried by birds. It thus appears 
questionable whether the character of the substratum has any 
influence whatever on the germination of the mistletoe seeds. 
It is of interest to note that the seeds of the mistletoe are for 
the most part ripe and fallen by the time the leaves of the host 
make their appearance. This has one great advantage to the par- 
asite, namely, that of being better able to reach the twigs and 
branches of the host than would be the case when these members 
are covered with leaves. As it will be seen later this is especially 
important in the case of the mesquite and its mistletoe. 
Although water may not be a factor in inducing the germina- 
tion of the seeds, it may assist in their dissemination ; however I 
have made no direct observation on this point. When the seeds 
fall and become attached to a branch, they are so firmly fastened 
by means of the adhesion to the branch of their viscid contents, 
that they are dislodged with difficulty (FIGURE I). It is quite pos- 
sible, and here again I have no proof of the truth of the statement, 
that the firmness of the attachment is of considerable importance 
