„Some observations on the longitudinal growth 

 of stems and flower-stalks". 



BY 



E. VERSCHAFFELT. 



Superficial observation already shows that in many cases 

 the growth of stems, leaf- and flower-stalks is greatly dé- 

 pendent on the organs which theybear: buds, leaf-lamina, 

 flowers. When thèse latter are removed the growth of the 

 axial parts is generally arrested and they even die after 

 a shorter or longer time. 



In literature I hâve found no mention made of investi- 

 gations, attempting to analyse this phenomenon more 

 closely; e.g. in the case of flower-stalks, to flnd out whe- 

 ther excision of certain parts of the flower had as much 

 influence on the growth of the stalk as the removal of 

 the entire flower. I hâve now been able to make this out 

 for some vernal plants by measurements of growth and I 

 shall in what folio ws give a short account of the results. 



I chose preferably flowers for this purpose, since hère 

 at the top of the same spindle organs of différent physio- 

 logical functions occur together and so the experiments 

 admitted of greater variety. In one case, that of Eranthis 

 hieinalis Salisb., I shall describe the course of the investi- 

 gation and its results a little more in extenso; the other 

 examples will be more briefly dealt with. 



The stem of Eranthis, as will be known, bears at its 

 top a single flower and close under it, united to a sort 

 of broad collar, a whorl of three green sitting parted leaves. 



Recueil des trav. bot. Neerl. N". 2. 1905. 11 



