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MISS NELLIE BANCEOFT ON 



or part of a stele, and each of the complete steles is more or less heavily outlined hy a 

 dark brown coloration of the adjacent tissues (PI. 11. hgs. 3, 7, & 8). 



Since it is impossible to know how much of the outer layers of the stem is lacking, 



■ 



the precise arrangement of the " steles " * must remain undetermined, although appa- 

 rently one or more series were originally arranged peripherally. In addition to these, 

 the central ground-tissue contains irregular isolated patches of tissue of the same 

 compact structure and of varying size and shape. Situated near two steles belonging 

 to what is considered as the inner series is an irregularly arched mass of the same tissue, 

 consisting of two distinct parts (PL 10. figs. 1, 8, 9, & 11 ; PL 11. figs. 7 & 8). 



A comparison of the cut and rough transverse sections of the block considered in 

 connection with the outer surface-features shows that the masses of compact tissue run 

 fairly regularly through the short length of stem without changing their position to 

 any great extent, hence apparently without much branching or anastomosing. The cut 

 vertical surface figured (PL 10. fig. 13) shows the straight and independent course of 

 two of the steles. The irregular arched mass mentioned above slightly changes its 



relative position with regard to the members of the inner series of steles. 



(b) Internal Structure. 



Several transverse sections were cut from one end of the block, one of them being 

 practically complete. This will be referred to as Section A. Three incomplete sections 

 were taken from the same original thick section as this, and are therefore in approxi- 

 mately the same plane. These, with another incomplete transverse section, cut about 

 a centimetre higher, do not reveal any facts as to change of position, branching, or 

 anastomosing of the steles. An almost complete section (referred to as Section B) cut 

 from the other end of the block, its position being about 4 cm. below the first complete 

 section, shows no change in general arrangement of the steles, and very little change in 

 their individual outlines. The central arched mass is more irregular and broken up ; 



while one of the steles of the inner series (stele 5 ; see PL 10. figs. 3 & 10 ; PL 11. figs. 7 

 & 8) assumes a different form, possibly in relation to the separation of a trace. It also 

 moves slightly away from stele 4 towards stele 6 in passing from the level of Section A 

 to that of Section B. All the sections give the same details of structure. 



Section A, corresponding approximately to the cut surface of the block shown in 

 diagram (cf. PL 10. fig. 1 and PL 11. fig. 8j, shows eight complete steles (1-8) embedded 

 in the ground-mass, one almost entire (9), and parts of four others (10-13), all belonging 

 to what is termed the " inner series." In addition to these there are seven groups of 

 vascular tissues {a-g), evidently parts of steles which are not completely represented. 

 These seem to belong to an outer series. Here and there amongst the steles, and more 

 or less in connection with them, particularly in the case of the inner series, are groups 

 of xylem elements, possibly representing a leaf-supply system (PL 10. fig. 1; PL 11. 

 figs. 3, 7, & 8). Einally, in the central ground-tissue are patches of vascular elements 



* The term " stele " is used provisionally for convenience in describing the structure of the stem. See footnote 



to p. 48 of Dr. Scott's monograph on Sutdima insignis. 



