J 
1900] PERENNIAL HERBS 181 
The observations on Erythronium mesachoreum as well as E. 
albidum were made in the neighborhood of Lincoln, Neb. 
So faras the physiological behavior of the rhizome and roots 
is concerned, Lilium superbum and Medeola Virginiana agree 
almost perfectly with Erythronium. 
Lilium superbum 1. has a horizontal rhizome, in which stem 
and leaves are fleshy, and participate in the same degree in the 
storing of reserve material. Each year’s growth of the rhizome 
is in full-grown specimens about 4™ long, forming at first a 
funner-like stem portion beset with a few small fleshy scales, 
and at last a stout, bulb-like structure with numerous crowded 
fleshy scales, from the middle of which the aerial stem arises. 
From the under side of this terminal bulb-like portion of the 
thizome, just at the place where the aerial stem originates in 
June, about ten thin roots grow out horizontally, radiating 
towards all sides and sparingly forming lateral branches of the 
frst order. They do not exhibit any contractility, and last but 
one year, the rhizome dying off from behind very quickly. I 
ee the growing point of the rhizome in full grown specimens 
between 7 and 10% below the surface of the earth. The plant 
and keep this depth, as the roots are quite inactive, 
ey = movement of growth of the rhizome itself. This behavior, 
—— some other American species of Lilium seem to share, is 
rely different from that of Lilium Martagon and other species 
nis es World, in which the bulb grows vertically upwards, 
awn down by strongly contractile roots. 
rea Virginiana Li. has a horizontally creeping tuberous 
State. oo. but one year’s growth in the fully-developed 
bears about ernating, tuber-shaped, end portion of the rhizome 
attain Isem sean or twenty-five thin, thread-like roots, which 
first and a a ength and produce numerous branches of the 
tractile Ca the second order. These roots are not con- 
ing very i late ” all directions from the rhizome, meander- 
towing in a nae their course, On even soil I found the rhizome 
Ment is due t tee varying from 1 to 4™. Also here the move- 
© the rhizome alone, the roots taking no part in it. 
