MYRSIXE.E 189 



that most commonly characteristic of cotyledons, while the 

 venation of the lower half corresponds to that of the leaves. 

 The first leaf is similar in shape to the cotyledons but smaller. 

 Succeeding ones are larger and gradually pass through ovate 

 and elliptic to lanceolate forms. The plant itself is shrubby, 

 erect at first, but ultimately climbing. 



The cotyledons of Embelia viridiflora are large, elliptic, 

 somewhat undulated, entire, and persistent. The growth 

 of the stem is very much interrupted, and at the lower part 

 of each growth some of the leaves are small and scale-like, 

 followed by a few that are similar in shape to the cotyledons 

 but larger. 



The four species of Ardisia examined have cotyledons 

 widely different in form, and differ more or less widely in 

 their mode of germination. The cotyledons of A. polycephala 

 (fig. 506) are elliptic, emarginate, foliaceous, and persistent, 

 with an incurved penninerved venation like that of the 

 leaves, the first two of which are similar, but larger and en- 

 tire. Succeeding ones rapidly increase in size, but especially 

 in length. 



In A. mamillata (fig. 505) the hypocotyl is short but 

 very stout and fleshy. The cotyledons are aerial but small, 

 oblate, bifid and hairy. Those of A. crenulata (fig. 503) 

 are small, spathulate, and petiolate, but never leave the 

 seed. The latter if fairly well covered with soil remains 

 underground, when the petioles of the cotyledons attain a few 

 millimeters in length ; but if the fruit with its seed is uncovered 

 the cotyledons are almost sessile, and the seed gets carried up 

 by the elongating hypocotyl. This is more decidedly the case 

 in A. japonica (fig. 504), the hypocotyl of which varies from 

 1*3-3 cm. in length. The cotyledons are small, ovate and 

 never leave the seed, which therefore gets carried up with the 

 growth of the seedling. The petioles of the cotyledons are 

 both directed to one side of the axis, flattened, pubescent, 

 and become undulated as they lose substance and fade. The 

 first three leaves vary from oval to rotund and ovate, and 

 are serrate like the adult leaf which is evergreen. Several 

 seedlings often proceed from the same seed, as mentioned 

 above. 



