‘ 
THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST hin 
begins a rapid growth in thickness. The increase in thickness is 
confined chiefly to the region where the hypocotyl becomes con- 
tinuous with the epicotyl. The former soon begins to produce 
secondary roots and these are confined mainly to the lower part. 
With the appearance of secondary roots, the primary root begins 
to wither or rot and it is represented in seedlings of further develop- 
ment as a black filament or scar (Fig. 2). Fig. 3 A shows what is 
left of it in the second season of growth. 
Although the hypocotyl with that part of the epicotyl that 
becomes subterranean, assumes a diageotropic position or a posi- 
tion of equilibrium, the primary root maintains and the secondary 
roots assume a downward growth. It is from this underground 
diageotropic portion of the seedling that the rootstock develops, 
the product of the hypocotyl and a part of the epicotyl (Fig. 3-4), 
the former soon disappearing. If the seed is already underground 
the hypocotyl when covered with dead leaves or other debris 
elongates until the cotyledons are exposed to the atmosphere. 
There are then produced secondary roots from the hypocotyl 
not far from the cotyledons when the remaining part of the hypo- 
cotyl together with the primary root decays. As the plant ages 
the nodes and internodes become more or less horizontal 
and give origin to many adventitious roots. The more or less transi- 
tional development of the seedling is shown rather clearly in 
Fig. 1-4. 
VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION. 
During the spring and early summer of the year 1912 and 
1913, while studying the cleistogamous flowers of the violets 
together with the ecology of seedlings and their structure and the- 
anatomy of mature plants of some of the violets of this region 
there was found besides some interesting facts regarding the 
habits and anatomy, one peculiarly characteristic of the plant, 
namely, that of vegetative propagation. Vegetative propagation, 
in the sense applicable to this plant and to Crocion pubescens 
(Viola pubescens Ait.) is possibly shown by others of the same 
groups also is although not uncommon nevertheless quite rare in 
the manner about to be described. 
While gathering seedlings of this plant in St. Mary’s Ravine, 
Notre Dame, Indiana, one mile west of the University of Notre 
Dame, that this fact was first brought to our notice. Seedlings 
