Structure, etc., of Epiphegus Virginiana. 355 
of it are numerous bracts or scale-leaves. These are small 
yellow-white, reddish or brown reduced structures. 
Above the tuber rises the aerial stem, which is merely the 
axis of inflorescence. It rarely remains simple, more com- 
monly it branches, and continues branching freely through 
most of its upward course. It shows a nearly constant tor- 
sion from left to right. This torsion is made evident in the 
grooves passing down below each of the flowers, and in 
the lines of darkened color occurring frequently along the 
stem. Both stem and branches are remarkably stiff, inflexi- 
ble, unyielding structures. They are of a reddish or dull 
tawny brown color, and show streaks of darker brown, white 
and purple. The branches always arise in the axil of a 
bract. Some may arise separately on the tuber itself. Along 
the aerial stem and its branches appear the small bracts. 
They are arranged in a two-fifths spiral, sometimes in a 
three-eighths spiral; but in the upper part of stem and 
branches they seem to lose all regularity of position. In the 
upper part of the tuber these bracts are found, each sub- 
tending a small swelling or papilla. These swellings prob- 
ably represent abortive branches. Bracts even occur on the 
lower part of the tuber between the outgrowing roots. 
Throughout the greater length of stem and branches 
flowers occur in the axils of these bracts, a single flower in 
each axil. The total number of flowers developed on a 
single plant is strikingly large. These flowers display two 
distinct types—the cleistogamic or closed, and the chasmo- 
gamic or open type; there is frequently present a flower or 
flowers transitional between these two. The cleistogamic 
blooms are greatly in excess in point of numbers, they 
mature a much greater number of seeds, and are frequently 
the only kind of flower appearing on a plant. The chasmo- 
gamic flowers, when present, vary in number, as succeeding 
tables will show. When present, they occupy a limited 
region along the upper part of stem and branches, though 
they are scarcely ever found as the uppermost blooms. 
