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POLYGONATUM COMMUTATUM 5 
As fall approaches the epicotyl about the base of the leaf enlarges 
forming a second tuber similar in appearance to the old hypocotyl 
and separated from it by a narrow constriction (Fig. 9). In fall a 
rather large bud is produced in or near the axil of the leaf, and the 
leaf itself withers away, leaving an elongated scar on this second 
tuber. During the third summer a second single leaf and a third 
tuber are formed almost exactly like those of the previous year, 
and there is a further development of the root system. The leaf 
decays in fall leaving a long transverse scar on the third tuber. 
The fourth year a true aérial stem with two or sometimes 
three leaves is sent up by most and probably by all of the seedlings 
not accidently retarded in growth. In no case was such a stem 
found earlier than the fourth year. In perfect plants then the 
fourth tuber is always found bearing a round stem scar produced 
by the dropping off of this first stem and readily distinguishable 
from the previous leaf scars. About this time, however, the first 
tuber or old hypocotyl usually decays, so that four-year-old 
rhizomes are not always found with four tubers. On this account 
it becomes increasingly difficult to determine the exact age of a 
plant by inspection only. 
Moreover after the fourth year the constrictions between the 
tubers become less marked until in later life an almost continuous 
rhizome results with only joints and stem scars to mark the annual 
growth, the only decrease in diameter being in the parts formed 
at the time of seasonal droughts and fruit production in late 
summer and fall. There is a very gradual increase in the size of 
the successive aérial stems, and it is perhaps not until about the 
tenth year or even later that any flowers or fruit appear. Thus 
the development of the seedling is a very slow process, and, since 
the growth of the mature rhizome is by no means fast, it will be 
seen that some of the ordinary large branching colonies must be 
very old to have reached such a size. 
THE ANATOMY OF THE SEEDLING. ° 
GENERAL:NOTES ON THE VASCULAR SYSTEM (FIG. [Oy DIAGRAMIC). 
The primary root (c) has a single radical wood bundle, and 
this divides on entering the hypocotyl (b), one branch going up- 
ward into the petiole of the cotledon (a) and the other to the 
epicotyl (f) at the opposite side. That which enters the petiole 
of the cotyledon again divides and the branches continue almost 
