1916} HOFFSTADT—PIPER METHYSTICUM I1Q 
The peripheral bundles at any node may branch. In older. 
nodes this branching may occur just before the peripheral bundles 
become pith bundles, and part remain in the peripheral ring; the 
latter will then connect with the bundles of the leaf at the node 
below (fig. 19). 
Fics. 2-6.—Transverse section through a terminal bud of P. methysticum, show- 
Ing the course of the bundles; X 168. 
The coalescence of the branches of these bundles does not always 
occur at the node, but may occur above or below it, as follows: 
(t) branches of the same bundles may join before passing through 
a node; (2) branches from different bundles may unite; (3) 
branches of a peripheral bundle of the internode above may join 
a peripheral bundle of the internode below. Not infrequently 
Strands isolated in the anastomosing of the pith bundles at any 
