Morphology of the Pitcher of the Cephalotus follicularis. 177 



there is some error of description, the cases here referred 

 to must have been exceedingly unlike mine ; but whatever 

 they may have been, it is quite certain that they had not 

 been sufficient to enable Dr Masters to come to any very 

 definite opinion on pitcher-morphology. This may be 

 gathered from his immediately following conclusions as to 

 ascidia in general, which run thus : — " It is not in all cases 

 easy to trace the origin and true nature of the ascidium, as 

 the venation is sometimes obscure. If there be a single 

 well-marked midrib the probability is that the case is one 

 of cohesion of the margins of the leaf; but if the veins are 

 all of about equal size, and radiate from a common stalk, 

 the pouch-like formation is probably due to dilatation and 

 hollowing of the petiole.* Again, when the result of a 

 union of the margins of the leaf, the pitcher is generally 

 less regular than when formed from the hollow end of a 

 leaf-stalk. Further information is especially needed as to 

 the mode of development and formation of these tubular 

 organs so as to ascertain clearly when they are the result 

 of a true cupping process, and when of cohesion of the 

 margins of one or more leaves." 



In conclusion, I may refer to tlie principal points for 

 comparison, or contrast, between the pitcher of Cephalotus, 

 on the one hand, and those of Sarracenia and Nepenthes^ on 

 the other, in both of which latter the development has been 

 examined — in Sarracenia by Professor Baillon,t and in 

 Nejjenthes by Sir Joseph D. Hooker. J 



As regards Sarracenia, Baillon's observations and con- 

 clusions are briefly as follows: — In S. p)urpurea the leaf 

 appears at first as a small convex mammilla. A little later 

 the base of the organ becomes somewhat dilated and a little 

 concave towards the inner surface. This dilatation is the 

 sheathing base of the petiole, and at a later period becomes 

 considerably developed. It has nothing to do with the 

 formation of the pitcher. This last appears somewhat later 



* To this category Dr Masters would, no doubt, relegate the case of Cephalotics. 

 It seems just possible that in the monstrosities of Cc]}halotus referred to by him 

 the rudiment of the pitcher-lid has been mistaken for a " radimentary leaf-blade. " 



t "Sur le developpement des feuilles des Sarracenia" — {Comptes Rcndus, 

 Ixxi. p. 630). 



X "On the Origin and Development of the Pitchers of Ncpentlies, with an 

 Account of some new Bornean Plants of that Genus " — { Trails. Linn. Soc. 

 vol. xxii. p. 415). 



TRANS. BOX. soc. VOL. XIV. N 



