TOO 



transformed into a spongious body, closely imbedded in the 

 albumen, while the lower part is free, as for instance in the 

 Palmae, Smilax and Y'^icca ; or the cotyledon can be entirely 

 enclosed in the seed, showing a more or less shield-like, 

 conical or fusiform shape, as, for example, in Carhtdovica, 

 Eucharis, Uemerocallis and AntJntrinni, * On the contrary, 

 in plants with exalbuminous seeds, the cotyledon forms a 

 more or less ^roundish body, as in Peltandra, Orontiitm and 

 Aglaonevia. The sheath, formed by the base of the cotyle- 

 don, and opens wntli a slit on the anterior face, has been 

 observed in all the species with albuminous seeds, but not in 

 the other ones, Peltajidra, Orontititn and Aglaoncma. The 

 first leaf next the cotyledon is mostly scale-like, and is, at 

 least in the species described above, in constant alternation 

 with the cotyledon, like the epiblast of the Gramine?e. 



The presence of a hypocot}! has been observed in Smilax 

 and Agave, and a distinct epicotyl was found in Smilax, 

 Cai'ludovica and Ani/airium. 



The primary root does not always fade away as soon as 

 is usually described as characteristic of the Monocotyledonea^, 

 and we have seen several cases of a rather strong develop- 

 ment, and of a considerably long duration in Attalea, Yucca 

 and A 71 tJi it rite m, ' 



U. S. National Museum, Washington. June, 1890. 



fl 



»k. 



\ 



J 



