Theodor Holm : Types of Claytonia Gronov. 9 



It is interesting to notice the uniform structure of the inflorescence, always cymose, 

 but more or less modified into monochasia. Furthermore the constant presence of at 

 least one of the two prophylla; in Montiastriim there is but one; in Naiocrene both are 

 developed, but of very minute size; in Alsinastrum both are present, but of very une- 

 qual size; finally in Limnia and Euclaytoma both are of the same size, and lai^e. In 

 regard to the stem above ground this may be leafy, or destitute of leaves except the 

 prophylla. When only one internode is developed as in Euclaytonia and Limnia the 

 prophylla are the only leaves of the stem, the fohage proper being borne on the exlre- 

 mely short central shoot; in these two sections the ramification of the shoot is mono- 

 podial, the flower-bearing stems being developed from the axils of these leaves. A like 

 monopodium exists in Naiocrene, even though the flower.bearing stems consist of many 

 internodes with alternate, green leaves. In Alsinastrum, on the other hånd, the leafy 

 stem is terminated by an inflorescence, and the leaves are opposite. Finally in Mon- 

 tiastriim the primary shoot is leafy from base to apex, but is not a monopodium. 



The method of vegetative reproduction, also, deserves notice; bulbiets sessile in the 

 axils of the cauline leaves we have seen in Naiocrene; bulbiferous, subterranean stolons 

 occur in Alsinastrum; stolons, subterranean, but not bulbiferous, occur, also, in Alsina- 

 strum, furthermore in Limnia, but only in a certain form of Cl. Sibirica; finally in CL 

 sarmeniosa stolons above ground are well represented, and from these leafy rosettea 

 become developed. In the large-rooted species of Euclaytonia the monopodial shoot 

 winters over with a rosette of leaves in the axils of which the young inflorescences are 

 hidden until the coming of the spring; in Cl. Virginica and its nearest allios with a glo- 

 bular, tuberous root, no leaves are visible d uring the winter, these being kept in the 

 ground together with the young inflorescences, which appear before the leaves. Nearly 

 all the species of the section Limnia are annual, but we have seen that Cl. asarifolia 

 is porennial, and that Cl. Sibirica, though typically an annual, does occur as a pcrennial 

 under favorable conditions. All the species of Monliastrum are annual. In reganl to 

 the root-system we have seen the enormous development of the primary root in Cl. me- 

 garrhiza, partly also in the other members of Euclaytonia. But in the other species the 

 primary root is slender, and does not persist for more than one season except in Cl, Si- 

 birica whon pcroniiial, and in Cl. parvijolia, where it, howover, becomes replacod by 

 Hocondary root.s. Secondary roots (mh-up, also, in Alsinastrum, developod from tho inter- 

 nodes of the bulb, and sometimcs also from the nodes of the slender stolons; in Cl. sar- 

 mentosa such roots were noticed upon the stolons, beside at the base of tho leafy rosette; 

 finally in Cl. Australasica the stems root freely at the nodes. 



If we now compare the geographical distribution of these species of < ,:u,i<>i,,u, v»r 

 notice the occurrence of the large-rooted Cl. tuberosa and Cl. ardica m Silirria, of CL 

 sarmentosa. Cl. asarifolia and CL Sibirica on the islands of Bering Sea, from where they 



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