505 



not all, the mature specimens which I have dried, have had roots 

 more or less inclined to be tuberous. It must not therefore be infer- 

 red that the form of my roots is owing to the season at which they 

 were taken up. The following circumstance quite disproves such a 

 supposition, and shows, moreover, that the root of our Yarmouth plant 

 is essentially tuberous. In the summer of 1844 I took up a large root 

 without stem, consisting of several tubers, and carried it home for ex- 

 amination. Something caused me to forget it and it lay a month or 

 more in water before I again noticed it. One of its tubers had then 

 been broken off at about half its length from its connexion with the 

 stem, and the lower or detached portion had thrown out leaves from 

 two of the eyes with which the tubers are studded. No appearance 

 of stems was visible, owing, I imagine, to the tuber not having been 

 buried, but fully exposed to light while lying in water. This speci- 

 men I showed to Dr. Lindley last summer. 



The following appears to be the process of formation in the root of 

 Lachenalii : originally a fibre, it swells for a portion of its length 

 commencing at a little distance from its lower extremity, and gradu- 

 ally tapering upwards. The lower extremity itself remains unaltered, 

 and is the terminal fibre of the tuber, just like that represented in Mr. 

 Lees' figure of peucedauifolia, the tuber of which is doubtless formed 

 on the same principle. 



In the 'Penny Cyclopaedia' is a cut of GE. crocata, showing Siji- 

 brous root above the tubers. The expense of engraving forbids the 

 introduction of more figures here. 



I have dried forty-four roots for the Botanical Society, and to de- 

 scribe them it will be sufficient to refer to the figures already shown 

 in the ' Phytologist.' They may be classed as follows : — 



Eight, exhibiting the peculiarity of the annexed figure. 



Three, large, coming near to Mr. Lees' figure, but agreeing rather 

 with his description (Phytol. ii. 358), in "thickening gradually towards 

 the posterior end." The old stems are attached to these. 



Six roots, some having tubers six inches long, and including all 

 the forms of such figured by Mr. Watson. Old stems remaining. 



Two roots, large ; tubers thick at the lower extremity, so much so 

 in one as almost to appear stalked, resembling Mr. Watson's pimpi- 

 nelloides (Phytol. ii. 397), the third figure from the right hand. Old 

 stems remaining.. 



Nineteen smaller roots, of various sizes, including every form, even 

 that of the Basle specimen, given by Mr. Watson as Lachenalii. 

 Most, if not all, of these have produced stems. 



