1899] BRIEFER ARTICLES 61 
hypocotyl and*.two deeply lobed cotyledons, which, although above 
ground, do not leave the seed. To this instance may, however, be 
added a second, but of an order very remote from the Myristicacee. 
A few weeks ago Mr. G. W. 
Oliver, of the botanical gar- 
den at Washington, D. C., 
called my attention to some 
very odd-looking seedlings of 
Jatropha multifida, which were 
kindly submitted to the writer 
for closer study. . The germi- 
nation of this plant had, so 
far, only been very briefly 
mentioned by Sir John Lub- 
bock,? who merely recorded it 
aS an exception from that of 
the other Euphorbiacee. The 
seedling develops as follows. 
Next to the primary root 
the hypocotyl increases very 
considerably in length and 
penetrates the soil by making 
a strong curvature until the 
seed becomes raised above 
ground, while simultaneously 
the petioles of the cotyledons 
ave reached their final de- 
in ae 
kisiguns and the first leaves, Fic. 1.—Seedling of Jatropha multifida L; 
Mg Opposite and of approx- natural size. 
