339 



most scale-leaf (Fig. 1). Sometimes forms transitional between 

 scale-and foliage-leaves occur. In the spring the principal 

 bud develops into a leaf-rosette consisting entirely of stalked 

 foliage-leaves, of which the first two (or according to Wydler 

 the first 2 — 4) stand transversely with regard to the subtending 

 leaf and the parent-axis, 

 while the others succeed in 

 a ^/5 spiral; later in the 

 year the scale-leaves must 

 be developed, and the plant 

 probably passes the winter 

 with a winter-bud covered 

 by the scale-leaves. 



The more-or-less erect, 

 rounded and almost glabrous 

 flower-stem bears 1 — 4 leaves 

 of which the lower are stalked 

 and the upper are sessile. 

 The radical leaves and the 

 stalked stem-leaves are al- 

 most similar in form, some- 

 what reniform, and palma- 

 tipartite, with broad primary 

 segments ; the sessile stem- 

 leaves are divided in a similar 

 manner; but the segments 

 are lanceolate-elliptical. All 

 the leaves are somewhat fleshy and are slightly hairy upon 

 their lower surface. 



The lower stem-leaf may subtend a vegetative bud which, 

 like the principal bud, bears first two transversely-placed leaves. 

 According to Wydler, this bud may effect vegetative propagation 

 because the parent-stem lies prostrate upon the ground, while 

 the bud strikes adventitious roots and becomes fixed thereby. 



Fig. 1. R. glacialis, 



(Trömsö; about nat. size). I, Main 

 axis ; II, principal bud, n its subtending leaf. 



