222 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [Sess. lxxxi 



stalked glands, and may be really sticky. As the shoot 

 ascends and years pass — the number varies much and is 

 doubtless affected by the environment — the redness on new 

 leaves lessens, and even to the extent that the underleaf 

 may be quite green. Then comes the stage when the 

 indumentum begins to appear on the nev\^ leaves, starting 

 frequently from about aiid around the midrib, not forming 

 a complete coating, so that leaves with indumentum in 

 varying amount on a green surface, blotched as it were by 

 it, may be found in years preceding the formation of leaves 

 with a complete iudumental layer. In some cases there 

 may be an abrupt passage from the surface without 

 tomentum to the leaf with full tomentum. In others the 

 leaf, without becoming green beneath, may form a blotched 

 or complete indumentum atop the reddened underleaf 

 surface. The glands if present on the young leaf may be 

 developed under the indumentum on the old or may be 

 absent. 



My observations are as yet too few and unsystematised 

 to permit of the framing of a classification of species 

 according to the resemblances and differences they exhibit 

 in the character. Nor am I able, in the presenf: nebulous 

 state of phyletic grouping in the genus, to say in what 

 degree the character has importance as a mark of relation. 

 All I propose to do here is to name some illustrative 

 examples of species in which I have observed the feature 

 under consideration. 



Rh. adenogynum, Diels, supplies one of the most striking 

 examples of these juvenile stages. The red glandular 

 undersurface of the young leaves is most conspicuous. 

 The redness disappears entirely in the leaves of about 

 the third year, which are quite green below and do not 

 form glands or hairs save perhaps a few sebaceous flocks 

 on the midrib. Then after some seven years the buff- 

 coloured tomentum, composed of dendriform long hairs 

 with interwoven branches, begins to show at the base of 

 the leaf. No one would suppose the young plant in these 

 early stages of its life was really Rh. adeiiogynuTn. 

 Another interesting point may be noted. This species 

 branches from the base of the stem at a very early period 



