Mr. G. Dickie on the Gemme of Polygonum viviparum. 55 
1X.—Additional Observations on the Gemme of Polygonum 
_viviparum. By Georace Dicxiz, Esq., A.L.S., Lecturer on 
‘Botany in the University and King’s College, Aberdeen. 
A pDEscripTion of the Gemme of Polygonum viviparum 
having been already given in the 32nd Number of the Annals, 
the following account of their original development, and of 
their manner of growth, will serve to complete the history of 
these remarkable bodies. Having procured in the early part 
of the season, from a locality in this neighbourhood, very 
young flower stems, both flowers and gemme were carefully 
dissected ; the former (which invariably occupy the summit of 
the flower stems) were much more advanced than the latter. 
Fig. 1. represents one of these magnified. Two nearly co- 
nical processes are seen placed side by side; on separating 
these, two similar bodies are seen in the interior alternating 
with the former ; by tearing asunder these last, two others are 
seen similarly inclosed (figs. 2. and 3.); the difference in length 
and breadth of the two innermost.is now more conspicuous 
than in the two outer. Each of these concentric bodies may 
be considered, the one as a young leaf and the other a bud in 
its axil. They are all of a very delicate texture and pale co- 
lour ; at this period the mass of cellular tissue enclosing starch 
grains is not developed, neither have the pink cells alluded to 
in the former paper yet appeared. The bud at the apex of 
each body is therefore first formed, and afterwards a quantity 
of fecula is stored up at its base. 
_ A considerable number of perfectly formed gemme, shortly 
after being gathered from the mature flower stem, were planted 
in a pot of mould, the apex of each alone protruding from the 
soil; they were daily supplied with water. A few days after 
being planted, a young leaf appeared at the summit of each, 
the petioles made rapid progress, and some reached nearly 
the cnet of an inch a week after the first appearance of the 
