394 



project above them (Abromeit). The perigone-and the nectary- 

 leaves are usually trimerous (Fig. 37); but the pentamerous 

 condition may also occur; the perigone-leaves are yellowish 

 and highly arched, the nectary-leaves are yellow; the nectar- 

 pocket is simple (Fig. 38, A). The stamens number from a 

 few to about 20; they are short and can reach only the lowest 

 carpels (Lindman). In Norway the homogamy of the flower is 

 preceded by a short staminate stage (Lindman); Warming (note- 

 book) found it to be homogamous in Greenland. In EUes- 

 meresland Simmons searched in vain for expanded flowers ; the 

 flower-buds, as also the fruit-clusters, were always submerged, 



Fig. 37. Ban. hyperboreus. 



Л, B, Flowers from Greenland; (drawn by E. W. ; ^/i). 



Fig. 38. Ran. hyperboreus. 

 A, Nectary-leaf (s/i). B, Fruit (»k). 



therefore he thinks that the flowers are cleistogamous and that 

 self-pollination takes place below the surface of the water. The 

 flower is often sterile (Krudse, Anders. & Hesselm.); the time 

 of flowering is July and August. 



Vegetative propagation is the more usual method: new 

 individuals are formed by the lateral shoots becoming inde- 

 pendent upon the decay of the parent-axis. Perhaps gemmules 

 also are important to the process. Fig. 36, С shows a gem- 

 mule from Gåseøen (Spitzbergen). Al the point of transition 

 between the stem and the large root an oval scar is seen, the 

 place of connection with the parent-axis. I saw only this 

 one, but it is possible that axillary shoots are normally set 

 free from the parent-axis before they develop further. 



Geographical Distribution. East and West Greenland, 



