17 
a little more prominent. Some five of these leaves are produced 
upon this shortened underground part of the primary axis, 
which then elongates to form an aerial shoot, leaving them at 
its base (Fig. 7). In the axil of each lies a large bud; that of 
the fifth continues the growth of the main rhizome, while those 
of the preceding four—if they develop further—give rise to its 
lateral branches. 
THE GENUS SMILAX. 
Two species of Smilax were examined—S. herbacea, Linn., 
and a plant of uncertain identity. In these the seed and its 
germination were indistinguishable, exhibiting the following 
peculiarities as compared with Asparagus. The micropylar 
region of the seed forms a small protruding point, in which 
Fic. 8.—Smilax,Sp. Seedlings in various stages. Cot., cotyledon; Cot. sh., 
sheathing base of cotyledon; f. (1, 2), leaf of primary axis (Ist, 2nd) ; 
H., hilum; Hyp., hypocotyl; Pr., primary root; S., seed; Sht., primary 
axis; Rc., root-cap. 
lies the extremely small embryo (B, Fig. 5). I have been 
unable to detect any differentiation in these embryos, several 
of which have been cut and examined, though this may be due 
to the difficulty of correctly orientating so small a structure 
when embedding it. I am, however, inclined to believe that, 
even in “ripe” seed, the embryo is at a very early stage in its 
development, and remains so during its resting period within 
the seed. The cotyledon of quite young seedlings is so very 
much larger than that region of the minute embryo that I think 
it probable that between sowing and actual germination—as this 
term is usually applied—the embryo undergoes further growth, 
as has been observed in the case of Juncus and other plants. 
It will be seen that the appearance of seedlings at various 
stages (Fig. 8) at once recalls the genus Asparagus. As one 
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