1901] ERIOCAULON DECANGULARE 23 
sometimes two, three, or even four together were observed, 
either in the same radius or side by side. This multiplication 
of vessels was found in the same root in which the majority of 
sections showed only a single vessel in each ray. 
In considering the pericambium itself another irregularity in 
respect to the number of cells between each two proto-hadrome 
vessels was observed. Two may be found in many roots, and 
is no doubt the commonest number; three cells were found, 
however, in the same roots, but seldom four or five. The leptome 
forms groups which are roundish in transverse section, and the 
proto-leptome is plainly visible. The central portion of the 
root was constantly found occupied by one or two wide reticu- 
lated vessels, mostly surrounded by a thin walled conjunctive 
tissue. 
The thinner secondary roots show much the same structure 
as described above, but root hairs abound. The innermost 
stratum of the cortex is sometimes distinctly thick walled, and 
the endodermis often exhibits a similar thickening of its walls. 
These roots show the same irregularities in the structure of the 
pericambium and the hadrome as described above, and there is 
also a wide central vessel surrounded by a thin walled conjunc- 
tive tissue. 
The lateral roots exhibit a very simple structure (fig. 3). No 
hypoderm is developed, the cortex bordering immediately on 
epidermis, and composed of only two or three strata, the innermost 
of which persists (jig. 3, C), while the others sometimes collapse 
Tadially. The endodermis (fig. 3, Z) is very thin walled, the 
spots being very plainly visible; and the pericambium is inter- 
rupted by the two rays of proto-hadrome, which alternate with 
two minute groups of leptome. No central vessel was observed. 
The peculiar course of the lateral roots in the cortical parenchyma 
before they break through the hypoderm and epidermis has 
been described, and it might be added that root hairs are 
_ absent from the enclosed part of these roots, but are developed 
aS soon as the root became free. . 
The roots of Eriocaulon may well be classified as simply 
