167 

 Another example of growth with a normal stem 



Date 5.2 9.2 13.2 17.2 22.2 26.2 

 Length 44 98 128 145 150 150 



and of a stem, bereft of leaves and flowers: 



Date 5.2 9.2 13.2 17.2 

 Length 97 103 104 104 



Whereas with normal Eranthis-stems the top with the 

 flower on it, had in the hothouse after a couple of days, 

 entirely erected itself, on the other hand the hook-shaped 

 curvature of the stem without flower or leaf-whorl, partially 

 remained and it was only verj slowly that its extremity 

 raised itself to some extent. This need cause no wonder, 

 if it is remembered that the disappearance of this curva- 

 ture is caused by asymmetrical growth of the top of the stem. 



Now in a séries of Eranthis-^Vàuts the organs on the 

 top of the stem were only partly removed; e.g. the three 

 green leaves, the petals, the stamens, the pistils. The lenght 

 of the stems was measured from day to day. The resuit 

 of thèse experiments has been very clear. As long as the 

 green leaves remained undamaged, the growth of the stem 

 might be called normal. At the utmost the stem remained 

 a little below its normal length if the whole flower or 

 certain parts of it were eut away. On the other hand the 

 growth was very considerably impeded by removing the 

 whorl of green leaves. This will be seen from the follo- 

 wing measurements. 



Eranthis-stem, on which only the three leaves under the 

 flower hâve been preserved, the flower itself having been 

 removed : 



Date 7.2 11.2 15.2 19.2 22.2 26.2 

 Length in mm. 51 107 134 141 141 141 



