3 



does tlie seed ever become dissociated from its plant, but that 

 tbe fertilised ovum at once germinates and develops into a 

 new plant, wbicb at maturity is detacbed, and begins an inde- 

 pendent cycle of existence. 



Let us see bow facts bear out tbese ideas. First, as to tbe 

 sbort-life duration of tbe individual. Tbere are pretty large 

 quantities of tbe plant wasbed asbore in September and 

 October, mostly sterile portions of all sizes, but sometimes 

 wbole stems and roots, interspersed witb a few of tbe germ- 

 plants witb tbe cbaracteristic calyx-cups attacbed. Tben, upon 

 searcbing for tbe plants in localities wbere formerly miniature 

 forests of tbem bad been noticed, none could be discovered for 

 some time, tbese places being tbickly overgrown witb flowering 

 and fruiting Fosidonlas ; but upon tbese being separated, 

 young plants, tbree to four incbes bigb, or less, were discovered 

 in abundance. Pulling tbem up carefully, everyone was seen 

 to be supplied witb tbe quadripartite cup. Some only recently 

 detacbed were still in a recumbent position ; otbers, witb two 

 to four roots, several incbes in lengtb, and curved in irregular 

 >spirals (fig. 4) : wbile between tbese, specimens were obtained 

 in all stages, from tbe very root-bud onwards ; but not one 

 witbout tbe cup, or growing from an old caudex. 



Tbe cause of tbe deatb and decay of old plants, wbicb are 

 very mucb affected by parasitic weeds and zoopbytes, seems 

 to be tbat tbe stems and brancbes become extremely brittle in 

 old age, and are liable to be broken off by very sligbt force ; 

 and as tbe underground procumbent stem is apparently not 

 endowed witb tbe property of producing fresb sboots, tbe 

 destruction of tbe wbole is inevitable. But tbisvery property 

 bas been made available for tbe effectual propagation, con- 

 tinuation, and preservation of tbe species ; for at a certain 

 season (most probably between June and September) a limited 

 number of brancbes develop sexual organs at tbeir extremity, 

 tbose of tbe feminine type being protected by a double set of 

 sbarp spines, of wbicb tbe inner ones — closely investing tbe 

 precious core — are placed alternately to tbe exterior ones, but 

 only in one pair of five spines eacb, all separate, witb a single 

 sbort strong spine, or only a rounded little knob between. 

 Tbe exterior " wings," wbicb may be said to represent eitber 

 tbe calyx or tbe bracts of otber plants, are spreading in a 

 larger and a smaller pair, placed adjoining, not alternate. Of 

 tbese tbe larger ones contain fourteen or fifteen spines, and 

 tbe smaller nine or ten, all united at one-tbird of tbe distance 

 from tbe centre (figs. 2 and 3). Tbis structure, no doubt, 

 serves to protect tbe organ of propagation from injury during 

 its formation, tbe plant serving as food for fisbes or otber 

 animals. 



