223 



upon the hypocotyl extends. The seed then stands on a straight 

 green stalk. The cotyledons now draw nourishment from the endo- 

 sperm, the testa shrivels and falls ofT and the cotyledons bend away 

 from each other. In the meantime the liaustorium has also penetrated 

 into the hark of the host and the plant begins its proper mode of 

 life. In comparison with European species of Viscum, germination 

 proceeds quickly and the further development in particular takes 

 place more quickly, but in the species of Loranthus which we have 

 investigated the development of the seeds proceeds even much more 

 rapidly. 



3. Viscum oriëntale Bl. 



In our neighbourhood this plant is not so common as the previous 

 species. We had therefore not much material at our disposal. The 

 fruits and seeds closely resemble those of Viscum nrticuldtum, but 

 are somewhat smaller. Germination proceeds exactly in the same 

 way, although somewhat more slowly. Seeds, which were set on 

 November 26'^'', showed four days later commencement of growtii 

 of the hypocotyl. On December 6''' the apex of the hypocotyl had 

 become applied to the substratum. There was no trace of any thicken- 

 ing of the extremity. At the end of January the hypocotyl was 

 again straightened out and only after a few weeks the cotyledons 

 made their appearance from the seed. 



4. Species of Loranthus. 



Among the species of Loranthns which we investigated three 

 types of germination can be distinguished. The simplest case is that 

 in which germination takes place in much the same manner as in 

 Viscum . 



We have not been able to find from the literature at our disposal 

 in what manner gerrainalion takes place in the European species 

 of Loranthus. H. York') describes the development of an American 

 Loranthacea: Phoradendron jiavescens Nutt., where germination, 

 as we shall later show in greater detail, corresponds in many respects 

 with that of the species of Loranthus which we have investigated. 



5. Loranthus .vd>umbeUatus Bl. (?) 



This species is very common, both in the plains and on the 



1) H. YoKK. The anatomy and some of llie biological aspects of the "American" 

 Mistletoe. Bull, of the University of Texas. No. 20. 1909. 



