14. 
THE GENERA Ruscus, DANAE, SEMELE. 
The development of the embryo being so characteristic, and 
the features of germination so constant in the six species of 
Asparagus studied, it was decided to make an examination of 
those genera—Ruscus, Danae, and Semele—which in Engler’s 
“Pflanzen-familien ” are placed, along with Asparagus, in the sub- 
division Asparagee of the family Liliacee. Like the latter genus 
they are characterised by the reduction of the leaves to minute 
colourless scales, by the presence of remarkable cladodes, and 
Fic. 5.—A, Longitudinal section passing through the plumule of an embryo of 
Ruscus aculeatus, Linn. B, Section of seed of Smilax herbacea, Linn., 
passing through the embryo. C, Similar section of Ruscus aculeatus seed. 
D, The same of Danae Laurus, Medic. Cot., cotyledon; E., embryo; 
by the possession of a hypogeous sympodial rhizome. One 
would thus expect to find little or no difference between 
the anatomy of their embryos and young seedlings and 
those of Asparagus. There are, however, certain modifica- 
tions in structure observable which are worthy of note, and 
I shall chiefly confine myself here to a short account of these. 
Through the kindness of Professor Bayley Balfour I obtained 
good seed of the following plants :—Ruscus aculeatus, Linn. ; 
R. Hypophyllum, Linn.; Danae Laurus, Medic.; and Semele 
androgyna, Kunth. These were germinated, sectioned, and 
