340 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIEMCES. [Proc. 3D Ser. 



B7'anching. — From the distal portion of any phalanx 

 branches may arise. Generally two opposite branches are 

 produced, but frequently three may occur around the base 

 of the same bulb. A branch is always separated from the 

 parent stem by a double perforated septum (fig. 13, doii. 

 Sep.), so that, however twisted the growth may become, the 

 branches may always be distinguished from the parent 

 stalk. It is probable that branches begin to form at an early 

 stage in the growth of the polypide. They are often found 

 below the second dilatation, and frequently no difference 

 can be discerned between the first phalanx of the branch 

 and the second of the parent stalk except one of length. 

 A branch may itself be composed of several phalanges 

 similar in all respects to those of the parent, and the distal 

 end of each of its phalanges may in turn give rise to second- 

 ary branches. 



The complexity of growth is further increased in certain 

 cases by the production of what may be called a stolonic 

 process in the place of a branch (fig. 16, sto. pro.). Such 

 a process, like a branch, is separated from the parent stalk 

 by a double perforated septum, and like a stolon, it forms 

 alternate polypide-bearing and non-polypide-bearing seg- 

 ments (fig. 16, non. -pi. seg.). Sometimes the segments are 

 short, when dense masses of stems are formed about a single 

 bulb as a center of growth (fig. 15). Sometimes a single 

 long stolon is produced with segments of average length, 

 thus forming a basis for a new growth of polypides. Tran- 

 sitions are often found between what has been called a sim- 

 ple branch and a stolonic process. Thus, fig. 15 represents 

 part of a parent stalk {jpa. stk.) whose first lateral bud has 

 produced a simple branch {br. /). At the base of the latter 

 another bud has produced a second branch {br. 2). A 

 continuation of this process would produce a growth very 

 closely resembling a stolonic process, especially if that por- 

 tion of the stem which is intercalated between the two septa 

 (in. seg.) at the base of the two branches {br. i, br. 2) 

 should be somewhat prolonged. Such a case is represented 

 by fig. 16. Here another stalk {pa. stk.) has produced a 



