Ti2 Smith on Structure and Parasitism 
histological detail, and for embryological study, all of these 
methods proved equally bad. The protoplasm was somewhat 
shrunken even in the best specimens, and of course this was 
especially marked in the macrospore and surrounding cells of 
the ovule. 
GENERAL MORPHOLOGY. 
The plant is of a pale purplish-white color, and attains a 
height of from four to five inches. The roots are thick and 
fleshy, arise in clusters from the base of the stem and branch 
quite freely in all directions. Roots forming parasitic connec- 
tions either end in a knob-like sucker, or (as is more usual) 
may continue past the sucker and end asa soil-root. Some- 
times one Aphyllon root forms several suckers on the same or 
on different Aster roots. The soil-roots are more numerous 
than the parasitic ones, and from the structure of the former 
it seems probable that they are functionless as absorbing 
agents, and serve merely as hold-fasts. 
The stem is short, fleshy, and relatively very thick, often 
more than one-quarter inch in diameter, and from one to one 
and a half inches in length. It may branch several times at 
the base, or may remain unbranched. Foliage leaves are 
entirely absent, or else are represented only by one or two 
very thin scale-leaves at the base. The bracts are the con- 
spicuous leaves of the plant, and in a stout, vigorous speci- 
men may number five to ten. In the axils of the upper bract- 
leaves are developed the long, hollow scapes, each bearing a 
single irregular, purplish-white flower. Upper bract-leaves, 
scape and flower are thickly clothed with glandular hairs. 
I have found no trace of any perennating structure, and 
the plant seems to be strictly an annual. 
STRUCTURE OF THE ROots. 
The epidermis is of flattened, somewhat thick-walled cells. 
Some contain globules of a peculiar oil-like substance, but it 
