the Ovula of Loranthus and Viscum. 79 



spending diminution in size. By the time that the young plant is furnished 

 with a pair or two of leaves the attachment will be found considerably firm. 

 If we cut away the portions of the support, and lay bare the included portion 

 of the parasite, we find that the application takes place entirely between the 

 ligneous systems of both, the fibres of the sucker-like root of the parasite 

 expanding on the wood of the support in the form of a, pdte d'oie*. There is, 

 however, no interchange of structure between them ; neither at this period is 

 there any intermixture of ligneous fibres. As soon as the young parasite has 

 acquired the height of two or three inches, when an additional supply of 

 nourishment is probably required, a lateral shoot is sent out, which is, espe- 

 cially towards the apex, of a green colour. This at one or two, and subse- 

 quently at various points, adheres to the support by means of sucker-like 

 productions, which are precisely similar in structure and in mode of attach- 

 ment to the original seminal one. 



As the parasite increases in size, these lateral shoots become frequently very 

 numerous, and give origin, I believe, always from those parts immediately 

 opposite to the sucker-like adhesions, likewise to stems and branches. During 

 the same period the fibres of the suckers become more and more imbedded in 

 the ligneous system of the support, owing to the deposition of the new wood 

 of the latter. The fibres of the parasite never penetrate beyond their original 

 attachment, although the later developed fibres appear to have the power of 

 arriving at this point, but no further. This is veiy remarkable. In the adult 

 plant the sucker-bearing shoots frequently run to a considerable distance, 

 many of the stocks being literally covered with parasites, all of which have 

 originated from one seed. I have seen such shoots, which had taken their 

 course along a decayed branch, become reflexed, and return in quest, as I may 

 express it, of a part capable of affording due nourishment. In all the species 

 of Loranthus which I have examined the same phenomena occur, and also in 

 the species of f^iscutn from which the drawings were made. I have reason to 

 believe, however, that in some Loranthi and F"isca the attachment takes place 

 by one spot ; in other words, that there is only a primary attachment : such 

 will approximate in form to the F'iscum album. 



The sucker-bearing shoots frequently run contiguous to each other, and are 



* See Tab. VIII. fig. 2. 



