72 White. 



on the initial meristem of the growing point and could only be detected 

 microscopically during the earliest growth stages. The greatest number 

 of fasciations were produced under optimum conditions, showing increase 

 of nutriment in an abrupt manner to be the real cause, though this 

 abrupt increase was made possible through crippling the metabolism of 

 the plant by the insect. Knox's investigations are the most extended^ 

 but other observations on other plants support her conclusions. 



A specimen of Hieracium vulgatum with a broad flattened stem 

 was found in relation to a gall of Aulax hieracii (de Vries, 1901, p. 291). 

 Below the gall the stem was normal, above, it was fasciated. Hus 

 (1908) figures fasciated specimens of Erigeron canadensis, containing 

 larvae of Cecidomyia erigeroni. Other specimens contained larvae, and 

 though abnormal, were not fasciated. In all the specimens examined, 

 the fasciated and abnormal modifications began only above the gall-like 

 swellings. MoUiard (1900) found coleoptera larvae at the base of 

 fasciations in stems of Raphanus raplianistrum L. and lepidopteran 

 larvae occupied the same position in fasciated Picris hieracioides indi- 

 viduals. In the former case, a score or so of affected plants were 

 examined and the larvae were present without exception. In the latter 

 example, the relation between the insect and fasciation was not so 

 clear. More recently, the same investigator has shown that a relation 

 exists between the presence of fasciation in Senecio jacohea and certain 

 insect larvae inhabiting their roots or the bases of their stems. 



; Branching palms are not uncommon in India and are classed by 

 F. Scott of the Agri.-Hort. Society of India as of the nature of fas- 

 ciation. A particular case is given on the authority of Dr. Beaumont 

 (Gard. Chron. 1874), which is unique. Tliis is a specimen of the 

 „common date palm with 22 branches, 18 of which rise vertically, and 

 are so closely packed that it was not possible to give a clear idea of 

 them in the picture". S. Pulney Andy (1869, p. 661), commenting on 

 these branched palms, states that the intelligent native farmers, give 

 insect depredations, particularly beetles which bore into the growing 

 point, as the cause of tliis condition, especially as found in bifurcated 

 trees of Cocos nucifera. Fetch (1911) states that the fasciations 

 frequently present in young trees of Hevea hraziliensis are probably 

 due in some cases, to insect and fungous attacks, although these factors 

 will not account for the presence of the anomaly in every cases. 



Fraxinus excelsior and F. ornus are often affected with "fasciations" 

 which are sometimes "so abundant that it looks as if the trees had 



