C. A. BARBER 181 



described as brownisli cream below, f);radually becoming a lighter cream colour 

 and often bloomed in the young joints at the top. The root zones of the 

 Sunnabile group appear generally to blush a bright green on exposure, ana are 

 then very striking, as the eyes remain a clear yellow. There are traces ot 

 this green blushing in the Mesangan section of the Saretha group, but it 

 appears t<> be absent in the brown canes of the Katha section. 



Joint Characters. 



The characters of the joint have been largely included in the preceding 

 description of the cane as a whole. Such are the number of joints in the cane, 

 their average thickness and length and the thickness and length in different 

 parts, the colour of the joint, including bloom band, root zone and growth 

 ring. A great deal of time has been spent in observations in the shape of the 

 joint and descriptions have been recorded from time to time on the aspect of 

 the joint both in the median and lateral planes. But, although it is felt that 

 there are differences, these are not very striking or easy to put down clearly. For 

 one thing, the shape of the joint varies a good deal with its length, differences 

 in diameter at various points being emphasized in shorter joints, and this 

 introduces a further disturbing element in the analyses. There are, however, 

 a few other poiiits, not yet dealt with, in which joint differences have been 

 noted in tlie varieties of the Simnabile and Saretha groups. 



(1) Groove. The presence or absence of a groove or depression immedi- 

 ately above the bud, often considered of minor moment, turns out to be a 

 character of first importance in our comparison. The groove is always present 

 or indicated in the Saretha group, while it has at present never been met with 

 in any variety of the Sunnabile group. The groove varies, it is true, a great 

 deal in its development, sometimes extei\ding distinctly from the bud to the 

 b](jom band above, and at others merely indicated by a flattening of the surface 

 or a small depression above the bud. the rest of the joint being evenly romuled. 

 It is worth while drawing attention again to the black incrustations already 

 described, as there seems to be a distinct connection between these and the 

 groove, and both are characteristic of Saretha canes. 



'2) Circlet of hairs. The vestiture of the leaf scar appears to offer useful 

 distinguishing characters. This might have been expected, because we have 

 elsewhere been led to consider the circlet of hairs, with its attendant scar band 

 of felt, as suggesting a primitive relationship. This circlet of hairs is well 

 developed in and characteristic of all the members of the Saretha series. There 

 is some evidence that its development varies to some extent \vith climatic 



