THE MORPHOLOGICAL COMPOSITION OF PLANTS. 67 



habit inherited by the fronds so produced, and also by the 

 fronds they produce: the manifestation of the tendency 

 being probably limited only by failure of nutrition. That 

 under fit conditions an analogous mode of growth will occur 

 in fronds of the acrogenic type, like those we set out with, 

 is shown by the case of Metzgeria furcata, Figs. 45, 46, in 

 which such compound prolification is partially displayed. 

 Let us suppose, then, that the frond a, Fig. 106, produces 

 not only a single secondary frond b, but also another such 

 secondary frond b'. Let us suppose, further, that the frond 

 b is in like manner doubly proliferous: producing both c 

 and c'. Lastly, let us suppose that in the second frond b r 

 which a produces, as well as in the second frond c' which b 

 produces, the doubly-proliferous habit is manifested. If, 

 now, this habit grows organic — if it becomes, as it naturally 

 will become, the characteristic of a plant of luxuriant growth, 

 the unfolding parts of which can be fed by the unfolded 

 parts; it will happen with each lateral series, as with the 

 main series, that its successive components will begin to 

 show themselves at earlier and earlier stages of development. 

 And in the same way that, by dwarfing and generalizing 

 the original series, we arrive at a structure like that of the 

 terminal bud; by dwarfing and generalizing a lateral series, 

 as shown in Figs. 107 — 110, we arrive at a structure answer- 

 ing in nature and position to the axillary bud. 



JO? 103 109 



Facts confirming these interpretations are afforded by the 

 structure and distribution of buds. The phasnogamic axis in 

 its primordial form, being an integrated series of folia; and 

 the development of that part by which thgse folia are 

 held together at considerable distances from one another, 

 taking place afterwards; it is inferable from the general 



