422 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JUNE 
we are almost inclined to believe that the early development of 
the plumule in P. Emodi was simply due to cultivation in a hot- 
house, and that both authors have overlooked the scale-like 
leaves. The manner of germinating which we have described 
as characteristic of P. peltatum, with its plumule concealed, 
makes it very difficult for the observer to discover such seedlings 
in their native haunts. The color of. the cotyledons is, as we 
remember it, of the same light green as the foliage of this plant, 
and it is not uncommon to meet with these seedlings growing in 
dense clumps. It was this last circumstance that led the writer 
on the right track, when, some years ago, he was looking for seed- 
lings of this plant, which grows abundantly in the vicinity of Wash- 
ington. Bearing the fact in mind that the fruit of Podophyllum 
falls without bursting, and with the seeds closely imbedded in the 
gelatinous pulp, it was natural to suspect the light green seedlings 
Which were growing in small clumps to belong to this genus, 
even though the plumule showed no signs of further development. 
This type of germination, with the plumule inclosed in the 
tubular sheath formed by the union of the petioles, is not, how- 
ever, characteristic of Podophyllum alone. In looking through 
the vast literature that deals with the germination of dicotyle- 
donous plants, we find several instances recorded, which remind 
us of Podophyllum. Among the Berberidez themselves, Legnfice 
Altaica and L. vesicaria show a similar development of a cotyle- 
donar tube, as described by Bernhardi; a larger number of cases 
have been observed in the Ranunculacee, viz. , species of Anemone, 
Ranunculus, Delphinium, Aconitum, and Eranthis; in the Umbel- 
liferae, viz., species of Ferulago, Prangos, Smyrnium, Bunium, 
and Cherophyllum bulbosum; besides these may be noticed Megar- 
rliza Caltfornica, Limnanthes Douglas, Rheum Moorcroftianum, 
Polygonum Bistorta, P. viviparum, and Dodecatheon Meadia. All 
these cases are somewhat similar to what we have described above 
for Podophyllum, but with the exceptions of Eranthis, Aconitum 
Anthora, and Ranunculus parnassifolius, the plumule develops 
during the first year, breaking through the base of the tube. 
There is one point, however, by which Podophyllum peltatum 
seems to differ from the plants enumerated above, and this 
Te EE ee ed Ot a Oe 
