76 CROCION ACHLYDOPHYLLUM 
surface of the soil, fully expand and, begin to perform the functions 
of assimilation until future foliage leaves appear; then they finally 
wither and leave two scars in older seedlings opposite the rhizome. 
This rhizome arises partly from the epicotyl and partly from the 
hypocotyl. ‘The lower margins of the scars are joined by a shallow 
line traversing the ventral face of the rhizome. The cotyledons 
of seedlings examined were more or less, ovate to orbicular in 
outline with a tendency toward a better development of one half 
of the lamina. ‘The apices of the cotyledons are notched and a 
faint yet quite evident mid-rib runs from the apex of the cotyledon 
to its base. Between the petioles of the cotyledons a very small 
bud or growing-point pyramidal in shape constitutes the plumule 
or epicotyl. The plantlet with all the essential organs of vegeta- 
tion namely primary root (Fig. 1-4, Pr.), hypocotyl (Fig. 1, Hi.), 
cotyledons with their petioles (Fig. 1, Cot.), and the epicotyl begin 
subsequent development the rate of which depends upon the 
appropriation of food entirely from without. Very little food was 
stored in the cotyledons. Sooner or later after the cotyledons are 
exposed to the light there are noticeable changes manifested 
not only in length but also in diameter of all the plant parts. 
The hypocotyl, however, at first very delicate of nearly equal 
diameter, begins to expand at the upper extremity gradually 
tapers as it nears the primary root so that both form a more or 
less elongated cone with base below cotyledons and apex at the 
distal end of the primary root. The root ,soon develops many 
lateral branches beset with root-hairs. The development of foliage 
leaves from the tissue of the epicotyl proceeds rapidly (Fig. 3A 
and B). The leaf originates from the node in the axis between the 
petioles of the primitive leaves and is then carried upward by the 
development of the lower internode due to vertical expansion. 
Later, however, there is in the axis of the raised node another 
leaf formed which is soon separated from the lastly formed leaf 
and node by tissue that forms another internode. So there is an 
internode formed after each successive nodal formation differenti- 
ating the stem into nodes and internodes. 
The hypocotyl which until now together with the primary 
root was approximately in the same vertical plane with it, begins 
to bend upon itself assuming as it does so a more or less horizontal 
position, dragging toward the ground its apical part. Once under 
ground the whole of the hypocotyl with a portion of the epicotyl 
