RoscndaJil: symplocarpus and lysichiton. 143 



the leaf arrangement because it is hard to trace anything beyond 

 the 15th or 16th leaf (Text-Fig. 1). In Lysichiton it is much 

 easier because 28 to 30 leaves are easily recognizable (Text-Fig. 

 3), and in addition the bases of old foliage leaves persist longer. 



The arrangement of the leaves is very regular and constant 

 and there is no break in the spiral in passing from one joint of 

 the sympodium to another. The scale leaves and the spathe 

 upon the axis above the second foliage leaf follow the same 

 divergence as can be seen at inflorescence V, (Text-Fig. 3), where 

 these leaves are designated by the letters <x,^,y. There is not, how- 

 ever, any consistency as to which way the spiral runs, for in some 

 plants examined it ran to the right, in others to the left. In 

 both these diagrams it will be noticed that the inflorescence of 

 each renewal shoot is situated just opposite to the upper or second 

 leaf of the shoot. 



The number of inflorescences produced each year in Symplo- 

 carpus is equal to half the sum of scale and foliage leaves unfolded 

 during the season. Usually only one of these inflorescences comes 

 above ground and flowers each year, in which case it is the one 

 that terminates the renewal shoot bearing the two scale leaves (Text- 

 Fig. 1 ) . Where, on the other hand, two inflorescences come up the 

 first belongs to the renewal shoot that bore the last two foliage 

 leaves of the previous season (Text-Fig. 1). More often the inflor- 

 escence of this shoot decays, in all probability because it falls 

 outside the first scale leaf and is protected only by the bases of de- 

 caying foliage leaves of the previous season. In no case have 

 more than two flowering shoots been observed above ground on 

 one plant. 



The remaining inflorescences of the year, or in other words 

 those following the first foliage leaf of the season, do not come 

 to maturity. In all the plants examined they usually appeared 

 blackened and showed signs of decay many months before 

 the leaves were to have been unfolded. In both species the 

 inflorescences are laid down and can be recognized as small buds 

 in among the sheathing petioles some 18-20 months previous to 

 the time of blossoming. 



In Lysichiton the number of inflorescences produced each year 

 is equal to half the number of foliage leaves (counting the re- 

 duced leaves also as foliage leaves), so tliat in this respect its 



