a irl ltes 
1899 ] SOCIETY FOR PLANT MORPHOLOGY 119g 
imperialis, a Japanese tree of dense umbrageous habit, is inter- 
esting botanically from several standpoints. The method of 
branching is sympodial. The main shoot is terminated by an 
inflorescence, which dies back, after the seeds are discharged, to 
an axillary bud that prolongs the growth the next season. The 
flower buds, which are grouped in dichotomous cymes approach- 
ing the scorpioid form, are protected during the winter by the 
fleshy calyx and dense ferruginous hairs. The flowers, which 
expand in spring, are fully formed within the sepals. The leaves 
also are hirsute, and are thus protected from the full force of the 
sun’s rays. The fruit, which discharges in midwinter the winged 
seeds, is provided with a fleshy cushion that contains a consid- 
erable quantity of tannin. It is possible that this tannin is a 
reserve product, for when the seeds are ripe and the cushion falls 
out, there is not a trace of tannin left. The petiole contains a 
large number of crystals of calcium oxalate surrounding the hard 
bast. The different forms of these crystals are probably due to 
varying conditions of metabolism in the autumn, since the forms 
of crystals may be made to vary by altering the conditions of 
“rystallization, 
a he life-history of Leuchtenbergia principis: W. F. GANONG, 
Smith College.— The life-history of this most noteworthy of the 
Cactacee has hitherto been quite unknown. Seeds and young 
plants obtained from Mexico have enabled the author to work 
out the anatomical and morphological development through all 
tages except that from the opened flower to the ripe fruit. The 
Paper discusses 
rat ps vegetative points and of the embryos in their unfolding 
author ie i. to the adults. This work is intended’ by the 
amily, whi te of a series of life-histories of members of this 
ing Ba, ‘©’ are expected to yield data for a better understand- 
oe Phylogeny of the genera and of the principles of — 
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