ARALIACE^E 



41 



are minutely but distinctly mucronate. The first leaf is 

 reniform-cordate and serrate, followed by at least two others 

 which are cordate and acuminate. The ultimate leaves 

 are very large and bipinnate with serrate leaflets. The first 

 two leaves of Hedera Helix (fig. 418) are trifid and palmately 

 five-nerved, with the basal pair very slender. The next two 

 give an indication of five lobes. The cotyledons are coria- 

 ceous, entire, and very persistent. The leaves of the first 

 year's growth of H. palmata in the specimen noted by us 

 differed from those of the type in the first one being reduced 

 to a petiole (possibly accidental). The second showed an 

 indication of five lobes ; the third was small and terminated 

 the first year's growth ; the fourth and fifth were palmately 

 five-lobed, very similar to those of the adult. A slight 

 variation is shown by Tupidanthus calyptratus inasmuch as 

 the cotyledons are relatively broader and distinctly emar- 

 ginate. The first leaf is ovate, acute, tridentate and trinerved. 



Aralia edulis, Sieb. et Zucc. (fig. 417). 



Primary root tapering, fiexuose, colourless, giving off a few 

 lateral rootlets. 



Hypocotyl erect, terete, gla- 

 brous, pale green, suffused with 

 purple, 6 mm. long. 



Cotyledons ovate, obtuse, 

 mucronate, petiolate, glabrous, 

 trinerved, subreticulate, lucid ; 

 lamina 8 mm. long, 6 mm. wide ; 

 petiole 3'5 mm. long. 



Stem herbaceous, annually 

 dying down to the rootstock. 



Leaves compound (seedling 

 or primary ones simple), radical 

 and cauline, alternate, exstipu- 

 late, petiolate, thinly hairy on 

 the nerves beneath, also pubes- 

 cent above when young, deep 

 green above, paler beneath, shin- 

 ing on both surfaces ; petioles semiterete, deeply channelled above, 

 slightly hairy, dilated and sheathing at the base ; sheaths somewhat 

 laciniate. 



FIG. 417. Aralia edulis. Nat. size. 



