544 ON SEEDLINGS ' 



serrate. Bhomboid cotyledons also occur in other genera 

 and species, including Osbeckia rubicunda where they show a 

 distinct midrib but no other venation. The latter species is 

 notable for the length of the first internode. The first pair of 

 leaves is roundly ovate, subcordate at the base and trinerved, 

 while two or more succeeding pairs are inclined to be elliptic. 

 Osbeckia capitata (fig. 351) has broadly ovate, one-nerved 

 cotyledons ; and the two forms given are likely to be the 

 prevailing ones throughout a large number of the species with 

 numerous small seeds. The first three pairs of leaves are 

 ovate, while succeeding ones are inclined to be cordate at the 

 base, and from the third pair onward they are five-nerved. 

 Strong nerves proceeding from the base to the apex of the 

 leaf are very prevalent and characteristic of the Order ; but 

 in Medinilla magnifica and M. amabilis, strong nerves are 

 given off at various points along the midrib, and possibly in 

 other species, where the venation is pinnate. 



Osbeckia capitata, Benth. (fig. 351). 



Primary root long, slender, tapering very gradually downwards, 

 flexuose, and provided at an early stage with very short lateral 

 rootlets. 



Hypocotyl erect, terete, pubescent with very minute incurved 

 hairs, almost colourless, and becoming pale red at an early stage, 

 about 1 mm. long when the first leaves have appeared, and elongat- 

 ing little or none at all after this. 



Cotyledons ovate, obtuse, entire, minutely pubescent, at least at 

 the edges, petiolate, showing an indistinct midrib, but no other 

 venation, deep green above and red beneath ; lamina 1-5 mm. long, 

 1-25 mm. wide ; petiole flattened above, convex on the back, rather 

 broad, -75 mm. long. 



They do not increase much beyond these dimensions, but drop 

 away after a time. 



Stem erect, quadrangular; angles obtuse and densely covered 

 with closely and upwardly adpressed, bulbous-rooted hairs, the 

 intermediate faces smooth or more or less densely and irregularly 

 covered with similar hairs, red, and ultimately shrubby ; 1st inter- 

 node 1-25-5 mm. long ; 2nd 1-3-2 cm. ; 3rd 1-1-1-6 cm. 



Leaves simple, cauline, entire, opposite, exstipulate, petiolate, 

 covered more or less densely on both surfaces with bulbous-rooted 



