570 OX SEEDLINGS 



pseudocarp; the axis is proliferous, growing through and 

 forming at the apex of the whole a tuft of green leaves. The 

 berry is sometimes of a brilliant colour, e.g. red in Lampro- 

 coccus fulgens, blue in the monotypic genus Eonnbergia. There 

 is considerable variety in size and shape ; the berry may be glo- 

 bose or cylindrical, the size of a small pea, or several inches long. 

 The capsule dehisces septicidally by three valves separating 

 from the apex downwards. 



The seeds are usually numerous, fewer where the fruit is 

 baccate, and then usually ovate or lenticular (Bromelia, Bill- 

 bergia), in capsular fruits lenticular (Dyckia), elongated 

 (Pitcairnia), or linear (Tillandsieae). The seed-coat is often 

 provided with means of distribution, such as an asymmetrical 

 wing (Dyckia), tuft-like appendages at the apex or both ends 

 (Pitcairnia), or silky hairs as in the Tillandsieae. These 

 structures usually arise from the outer integument, the hairs 

 also from the funicle. 



The seeds contain a large quantity of endosperm, the 

 embryo being small and excentric, sometimes as in Bromelia 

 embedded in the endosperm, but more often lateral as in 

 Grass seeds (cf. Dyckia, Caraguata, Guzmannia). The embryo 

 consists of a radicle, with a frequently well-developed hypo- 

 cotyl bearing a single cotyledon which sheathes the plumule, 

 while the absorbent organ present in the albuminous Scita- 

 mineae is according to Tschirch developed in Bromeliaceae in 

 a relatively great variety of ways. 1 Sometimes, as in Cara- 

 guata, it forms a structure resembling the scutellum of Grasses, 

 sometimes it is club-shaped, penetrating deeply into the endo- 

 sperm, as in Guzmannia. 



The species of this Order being mostly epiphytes growing 

 on trees, and inhabiting the tropical and subtropical parts of 

 America, their germination has not been much studied. 



According to Klebs, 2 germination takes place in Acantho- 

 stachys strobilacea in a manner common to a great number 

 of Monocotyledons. The primary root projects first and 

 grows rapidly downwards, provided in this case, except at 

 the apex, with a thick covering of long hairs. One end of the 



1 Loc. cit. p. 94. 



* Beitrage zur Morphologic u. Biologic der Keimung, p. 565, fig. 11. 



