CONVOLVULACE^E 271 



Seedlings. The greater number of the seedlings observed 

 are modelled on the same plan, but vary considerably in the 

 depth of fission of the cotyledons, in the number of nerves 

 radiating from the base of the lamina, and in size. Seedlings 

 of the tribe Nolaneae have cotyledons resembling those of 

 a Solanum. All those noticed may be conveniently divided 

 into five or six groups according to the division of the coty- 

 ledons and their venation. 



The first group may be represented by Convolvulus Solda- 

 nella which has broadly oblong or squarish, shallowly emargi- 

 nate cotyledons with seven nerves radiating from the base. 

 The hypocotyl is very short and the petioles of the cotyledons 

 greatly elongated. The first two leaves are reniform-orbicular. 

 The cotyledons of C. sepium are very similar but narrower 

 and longer, with shorter petioles and a longer hypocotyl. 

 The shoots proceeding from their axils are geotropic. The 

 first two leaves are cordate and subhastate, acute and widely 

 separated by the lengthening of the internodes. The first and 

 second leaves of a seedling of this species curiously enough 

 were almost the counterpart of the cotyledons, but were rather 

 smaller and more deeply emarginate. Something similar is of 

 frequent occurrence in Ipomcea Pes-caprae ; in fact such a form 

 is the most common one. The cotyledons of Convolvulus tricolor 

 are obcordate or cuneate, bifid, trinerved at the base, and re- 

 markably similar to those of Brassica, both in shape and 

 venation. The first five leaves are spathulate, the sixth 

 linear-oblong, and the seventh to the fourteenth inclusive, 

 oblong. The cotyledons of Convolvulus triflorus are similar, 

 but more deeply bifid. The two first leaves are oblong-ovate. 



A third type is met with in Ipomcea Pes-caprae which 

 has deeply bifid cotyledons, trinerved at the base as in the 

 last case, while a pair of strong lateral nerves are given off 

 from the midrib higher up, so that two strong lateral nerves 

 traverse each lobe of the lamina. The primary leaves are 

 very variable in different individual seedlings. In the one 

 described the first one is oblong, and seven suceeding ones 

 are oblong-obcordate, or shortly bifid as in the typical leaf of 

 the adult plant which is not unlike the impression made 

 by a goat's foot on the ground, hence the specific name. The 



