THE GENTS CEOCUS. 



structure adapted to the protection of the new corm as it annually expands. 



deBed- 



Ad-iBm 



Fig. 1 represents in ;i diagrammatic form a section 

 of a conn and its surrounding tunics: A, the body of 

 the corm ; B, the scape ami ascending axis; c, c, the cap 

 produced upwards into the proper-leaves c. represented 

 separately in Fig. _' : tl.tl, the main tunic produced up- 

 wards into sheathing-leaves d, represented separately in 

 Fig. •'!: e, t. the basal tunic, 



Fip 



Fig. 2. 



Fig. 3. 



In the early stages of the new growth, the foliage completely environs the 

 incipient corm, and is articulated to its base within the mass of the old corm. As 

 the new corm becomes free from the parent mass and expands, the main tunic, forming 

 the base of the foliage, disarticulates from the base of the corm in successive layers, 

 and slips upwards; this would leave the bottom of the corm exposed, but for the 

 existence of an organ I have termed the Basal Tunic; this is also homologous with 

 the foliage. Whilst in the upper tunics each is separate, and independently con- 

 nected with a leaf or sheathing-leaf, the basal tunic would represent a number of 

 growth points united together at the base, and adhering to the base of the corm, its 

 short wiry rays clasping the base of the main tunic: like our own upper and nether 

 garments, the main and the basal tunics collectively maintain the continuity of the 

 clothing. Both the main tunic and the basal tunic present a great variety of 

 structure and adaptations. 



The vascular structure of the leaf is reproduced in the tunics. In these we find 

 a series of about a dozen strong vertical fibres, with somewhat fine intervening 

 parallel, confluent or reticulated fibre. A piece of netting hung vertically would 

 roughly represent a leaf-skeleton, and when drawn out laterally, a reticulated corm- 

 tunic. This is analogous to what takes place in the development of the tunic: 

 the expanding corm spreading out the vascular structure, which appears in a more 

 condensed form in the leaf, of which the corm-tunic forms the base. 



