J. M. Macfarlane. — .Xepcnthaceae. 3 



sparse v. copiose glandulosum et nectariferum ; costa folii parte posteriore oris ascidii 

 et insertione operculi in calcar simplex, v. rarius 3 — 5-fidum, producta. Inflorescentia 

 terminalis et folio opposita, cymosa, paniculata, cymis densis composita vel ad racemum 

 simplicem reducta, pedicelli tenues, bracteolati vel ebracteolati. 



Vegetative Organs (Vegetationsorgane). Germination of the seeds of Nepenthes 

 takes place readily and abundantly within 5 to 6 weeks after they are ripe, if kept 

 in moist surroundings such as the surface of Sphagnum or amid loose humus. They 

 also require a temperature of 25° to 30° C. The seed-coat ruptures along one side 

 from elongation of radicle and hypocotyl, and from curvature of the latter and of the 

 cotyledons into a saddle that gradually straightens tili the linear green cotyledons are 

 set free from the seed cavity. The radicle of the seedling steadily lengthens during the 

 first year tili it may be iO — 15 cm long. Lateral rootlets are formed acropetally on 

 it, and in considerable number. These incline to grow obliquely downward or even 

 horizontally , since thorough aeration is essential to their welfare. The entire root 

 system of the plant is therefore formed near the surface of the soil, and is most per- 

 fectly developed when amid loose decomposing vegetable humus, decaying fibrous roots 

 of other plants or open gravelly soil that is permeated by decaying vegetable material, 

 as indicated by Korthals, Burbidge and Scott-Elliot, and as praetised in successful 

 greenhouse cultivation. 



The annual growths of fine fibrous roots, in about i 5 species studied, are greenish- 

 yellow round the growing apex, but soon they assume a black-brown color. They 

 are closely beset with brown absorptive root hairs, all of which remain functional 

 throughout the season. Subsequent annual development results in the production of a 

 copiously branched root system. Some authors have stated that average root-develop- 

 ment in Nepenthes is comparatively poor and feeble. In healthy well grown plants 

 this is not so. The active absorptive root-hair system is also exceptionally rieh and 

 abundant. By subsequent formation of a root cambium and associated tissue, the 

 brown epidermal layer and subjacent cortex become split and ultimately shed in older 

 roots. These then assume a yellow or flesh color that may be retained for years, 

 but finally they become yellow-brown. 



The young stem is at first closely beset by leaves placed in rosette fashion 

 (Fig. \ C), since its internodes are almost suppressed. With increasing age the internodes 

 gradually lengthen in most species. But in N. ventricosa, N Northiana and others 

 the internodes remain short, and so the adult leaves are inserted in close proximity 

 to each other. If N. Smilesii and N Älicae are mature species — and all present 

 evidence is in favor of this — their stem attains a length only o£ 20 — 30 cm and is 

 upright. In N Veitchii, from the seedling stage onward, the stem as originally des- 

 cribed by Burbidge is prostrate, and creeps epiphytically along the branches of trees. 

 It then forms its leaves in close succession and in two-ranked order, but it seldom 

 attains a greater length than 1 — 1,5 m in the living part, while the posterior portion 

 tends to die away. This habit is perfectly retained under cultivation, and when plants 

 are grown in a soil of fibre and sphagnum roots may grow down from the crowded 

 nodes. In N. ampullaria, N melamphora etc.. the main stem may elongate, and 

 by aid of the leaf-tendrils may climb to a height of 2 — 6 m. But in these and other 

 species if the main stem or lateral branches fail to reach a support, they may lie 

 along the ground, root abundantly at the nodes, and there produce on short lateral 

 branches dense Clusters of leaves with reduced lamina but large and often richly colored 

 pitchers (Fig. 13 p. 32). The largest and heaviest stems of the group are those of 

 X. Raffks-iana, N Burbidgei, N. Boschiana and N bicalearata which attain a height 

 of 6 — 2 m, while the last may be 3 cm across. In color the stem and branches 

 are green during the first few months of growth as a rule. In such species as 

 N. albo-marginata and N anamensis they may vary from green to dark claret. 

 With age all become brown and somewhat brittle in consistence. They are usually 



