48 



spines. Tlie latter are exposed through the decay of the 

 covering membrane. "When fresh they are of the same green 

 colour as the leaves, but become brown after death. A large 

 and a small sepal face the surface of the opposite leaves, so 

 that both the large ones are on one open side, and both the 

 small ones on the other. 



The next tier is occupied by four or five short conically blunt 

 brownish processes. Two pairs are ranged on one side, occupy- 

 ing about one- third of the circumference, w^hile the fifth single 

 one stands opposite, and is mostly rudimentary. May they be 

 considered as rudimentary filaments ? 



Immediately above the fifth process is situated a dark brown 

 scale, investing about two-thirds of the central stalk ; the 

 edges delicately serrated or fringed, and a little larger than 

 the processes opposite to the side left open by it. This seems 

 to occupy the place of the petals or the floral scale of grasses. 



From the centre rises the thin, rather soft stalk of the in- 

 fant plant with the axis of the leaves at right angles to that of 

 the hearing branchlet. The first and second joint are each 

 occupied in very young specimens by a small scale-like leaf, 

 seen in somewhat older ones to develop into lateral branches. 

 Sometimes two appear on each joint. This is repeated at the 

 summit near the growing bud, while one or two leaves quickly 

 attain to their full size near the base. 



AVhen the calyx and bracts are carefully removed from the 

 upper portion, a convex area of oval shape and light tint 

 appears attached to the latter. In the centre, attached by an 

 attenuated neck, depends a minute body of subovoid or kidney 

 shape and bright yellow colour. This appears to me to be the 

 real germ-nucleus, the representant of the seed in other plants, 

 while the convex part above may be the lid of the ovary. Both 

 these become absorbed at maturity, leaving an oval concave 

 depression in the base of the superior detached part. 



Eemoving the sepals, we find the part occupied by them and 

 the other floral appendices much thickened, indicating the 

 place where the future roots appear. In most cases the stalk 

 of the immature young plant is very thin and soft, but 

 specimens occur in which it attains a diameter equal to the full 

 width of the leaves, and subquadrangular in shape. 



Generally only one flower is borne by a branchlet, but in 

 one instance two were developed as twins with separate 

 peduncles. Mostly only one to three flowers Avere found on 

 each large branch, while all the remainder were sterile ; but 

 in some cases six to ten occurred. The calyx- joint withers at 

 once after the upper portion is detached, and drops off, leaving 

 the bare branchlets without an indication of fruit. 



The male flowers seem much more perishable, and therefore 



