136 CJiapters hi Modern Botany chap. 



account is quoted from a manuscript note by Dr. Beccari, 

 who collected the plant in Borneo : — 



" I have carefully followed the development of this tuber, 

 having been able to observe the young plants in all stages 

 of growth from the period of germination. The seed is 

 surrounded by a viscid pulp, resembling that of our mistle- 

 toe, which readily attaches itself to the branches of the 

 trees upon which it falls. Its dissemination is probably 

 caused by means of the birds which eat the fruit, the 

 undigested seed passing through them and adhering to the 

 branches. The seed soon germinates and unfolds its 

 cotyledons, especially if it has fallen in an opening of a 

 branch where lichens ha\e collected, or if it be placed in 

 mould ; the stem develops itself to the length of from three 

 to six millimetres, widening towards the base, acquiring a 

 somewhat conical shape, with the two cotyledons at its 

 apex. In this condition it remains until a particular species 

 of ant burrows a small lateral cavity at the base of the 

 stem ; if this does not happen, the stem does not develop 

 itself, and the plant dies. The wound caused by the bite 

 of the ant determines a great development of cellular tissue, 

 in the same way as the sting of the cynips causes the galls 

 on the oak. The tuber now enlarges and the stem 

 develops ; the ants soon find sufficient space for forming a 

 colony, and excavate galleries in the interior of the tuber in 

 all directions, thus making for themselves a living habita- 

 tion — a circumstance which is necessar>' to the existence of 

 the plant. The plant could not live or even arrive at 

 maturity unless the ants contributed to the formation of the 

 organ which must be the source from which it derives its 

 support, while in all probability the ants could not exist or 

 propagate themselves unless they had discovered this mode 



quoted by Britten, " Ant - supporting Plants," Poptdar Science 

 Review. 



