MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 181 



■~j, A transition from relatively large rounded to small elongated cells 

 was distinctly noticeable iu the pith (P.) in the section of the abortive 

 scape (Fig. 7), whereas in the normal scape (Fig. 6), the cells of the inner- 

 most part were distinctly rounded and generally big. 



It will be worth while to consider the causes which have contributed to 

 check the growth of the inflorescences in these specimens. It is quite 

 obvious that, as the bulbs were never planted out on soil and as these could 

 not derive any nourishment from any extraneous source, these had to 

 suffer ultimately from starvation. For the sxipply of the plastic materials 

 necessary for the development of the scapes, flowers and ovules etc., for the 

 continuation and preservation of the stock, the bulbs had to depend solely 

 on the reserve materials stored in the fleshy scale leaves (Sl.). These 

 being nothing but limited sources of supply, could serve to provide nou- 

 rishment only for a limited period of time. Although, stored in a grocer's 

 shop, still, these bulbs were not totally deprived of all those necessary 

 external stimuli, e.ff., Light, Heat, Air and Moisture, etc., which serve to 

 stimulate development. These forms of energy, however, were not, in the 

 long run, sufticient for inducing the production of normal development of 

 all the organs. Hence, we find that in specimens Nos. 1 and 2 (Figs. 1 — 3) 

 abortive scapes were developed and that in specimens Nos. 2 and 3 (Figs. 

 3 and 4) some or all the flowers were arranged in sessile fascicles instead 

 of iu umbels. The reason why the scapes and flowers could not find an 

 opportunity of seeing the light of the day is this, that, — as much of the 

 vigour of these bulbs was spent, without being ultimately recouped, in 

 furthering the development of the inflorescences and scapes (where these 

 . were present) the pressure exerted inside the bulbs by these growing 

 organs was not sufticient to overcome the resistance oflered by the outer 

 •coating of dried scale-leaves. The thickened cuticle on the outer edge, 

 the thicker-walled sclerenchymatous ring in the cortex and the sub-central 

 ■vascular bundles appear to be nothing but the outcome of an effort, on the 

 part of the poorly nourished growing scapes, to gain an additional strength 

 1;o withstand the pressure exerted by the shrinking scale-leaves. 



My sincere thanks are due to Dr. H. G. Carter, M.B., Oh.B., Economic 

 Botanist in the Botanical Survey of India, for some useful suggestions. 

 Explanation of Figures. 

 Fig. 1.— Specimen No. 1 partially opened to show the abortive inflores- 

 cence (Infl.) covered by a membranous covering (Memb.). Natural 

 size. . 



Fig. 2. — A fuller view of the solid scape (Sc.) and inflorescence (Infl.) m 



specimen No. 1. Natural size. 

 Fig. 3.— A portion of the scale leaves (SI.) removed to show the fascicle 

 (c.) arising directly from the stem and the zigzag scape (Sc.) 

 supporting an umbel (a) in specimen No. 2. Natural size. 

 Fig. 4.— Some of the frontal scale leaves removed to show the fasciculate 



inflorescence (Infl.) in specimen No. 3. Natural size. 

 Fig. 5.— A flower from an abortive inflorescence dissected to show the 

 diflTerent parts. (A) Front view of a flower without the ovary. 

 (B) Side view of an ovary. (C) Front view of an ovary. (F-) 

 Transverse section of an ovary. (F) Ovules. All magnified. 

 Fig. 6. — Transverse section of a normal scape. Magnified. 

 "Fig. 7.— Transverse section of an abortive scape (Sc.) from specimen 

 No. 2 (See Fig. 3). Magnified. 



P. M. DEBB^RMAN, b. sc, m.k.a..s., 

 Systematic Assistant in the 



Botanical Survey of India. 



