466 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [ DECEMBER 
which have reached these dimensions since February. The leaves of the 
shrub first appear in considerable numbers about February 1, and they 
begin to turn yellow, preparatory to falling, about Juner. During the 
comparatively rainless period from late June until late September, the 
growth of the leafless shrub is extremely slight, and its obvious activity 
is almost wholly in the direction of growing and ripening the fruit. 
In corroboration of the view that the photosynthetic work of this 
NI 
fig 
- i 
Fic. 1.—Part of a leafless shrub of Fi 
Spartium, photographed July 1. It has borne tium, photographed July 1. The leaves are 
no leaves for a year, but has blossomed and on the point of falling. It has borne hardly 
any flowers or fruits. 
G. 2.—Part of a leafy shrub of Spar- 
is fruiting. 
plant is done largely in the leaves, may be given the additional fact 
that some individuals produce no leaves or hardly any during certain 
years. Whether there is any alternation of leaf. producing and leafless 
years for the same individual, I do not know. Nowthe leafless plants, 
at the end of May and beginning of June, when their neighbors are 
in full leaf and growing with great rapidity, are found to have made 
hardly any growth during the entire spring. But the leafless speci- 
mens often bear many flowers, and the leafy ones are comparatively 
flowerless. A glance at the accompanying figures will give some idea 
of the relative appearance of the two sorts of shrubs. 
