226 



hole is small and quite difficult to see, but yet large enough to 

 form an outlet for the thin hypocotyl. 



Germination takes place fairly rapidly. Its commencement is diffi- 

 cult to distinguish through the tough green layer of mucilage. This 

 must be removed by means of a needle, which is hardly possible 

 until the seeds have been soaked for .some time in water to soften 

 them. A few hours after the seed has become fixed, the apex of the 

 hypocotyl begins to emerge and the next day there can be clearly 

 seen a fine green point protruding from the hole in the testa. 



As soon as this protrudes half a millimetre out of the seed, the 

 growing stem begins to turn towards the substratum, keeping close 

 to the testa, so that it cannot be traced through the layer of mucilage. 

 Later it often bends still further and grows for a short distance 

 between the testa and the substratum. The apex of the hypocotyl 

 is not broadened and does not apply itself with its extreme point 

 to the substratum, but sideways. Gradually there is a broadening of 

 that part of the hypocotyl, which lies against the branch. The hypo- 

 cotyl is now as it were drawn out of the testa and the basal por- 

 tions of the cotyledons also appear outside the seed. For the most 

 part, however, the cotyledons remain hidden within the seed. The 

 upper side of the hypocotyl and tlie bases of the cotyledons also 

 soon appear outside the layer of mucilage and are very obvious by 

 reason of their bright green colour. The seed reaches this stage 

 after two or three days according to circumstances. Still a day later 

 a small green point appears on the upper side of the hypocotyl, 

 and later yet another. After a short time these are seen to be the 

 first green leaves of the plant. At first we took this to be the 

 development of adventitious buds, but the process is, however, much 

 simpler. The two cotyledons separate a little at their base, so that 

 a narrow slit is visible, from which the growing point of the embryo 

 grows out. Generally the embryo turns itself in coming out, in such 

 a way that the slit between the two colyledons faces upwards. 

 Occasionally this opening lies more to the side and then the leaves 

 of course also appear laterally. 



The two leaves grow very slowly and the hypocotyl broadens 

 itself at tiie same time. After a few weeks the haustorium penetrates 

 into the bark of the host. 



♦ 

 8. Loranthus fuscus Bl. (?) 



We found this species in large quantities as a parasite on plants 

 of Lespedeza cytisoides, which were very common on the slopes of 



