358 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [NOVEMBER 
from the western states have thinner husks than those of the 
eastern states, except EL. Hartwegii, which has a tough and thick 
one like that of Tulipa. This form grows in an adobe soil, subject 
to high temperatures and considerable pressure when the soil 
dries, which may have its influence in the development of the 
heavier husk (WARMING 22). The Eurasian species (EZ. Dens- 
canis) has a very delicate husk, which becomes fragmentary during 
the development of the new bulb, so that the bulb is but slightly 
protected. The development of the bulb in this species is similar 
to that of the western forms, but the zone of fusion on the axial 
side of the bulb rudiment is more nearly the full height of the 
bulb scale than in these, extending almost to the tip of the scales, 
and the stem scar seems to be at the apex of the scale. As a result, 
the scales are fused together along their adaxial surfaces and the 
axillary buds are inserted much farther from the base of the bulb 
than is the case in any other species. The base of the petiole 
becomes charged with starch, and indistinguishable in appearance 
or function from a bulb scale. This explains the absence of a 
husk, formed in the other species from the drying of the sheathing 
petiolar sheath. The seedling of this species is similar to that 
of the rest of the genus, but there seems to be less of deepening 
growth in the immature stages than in any of the species of the 
United States. It is probable that the period of blooming is 
attained even more slowly by E. Dens-canis than in the other 
species, if the same relation of depth and flower production is 
maintained. In some of the western species grown in the Botanical 
Garden of: Johns Hopkins University, it was noticed that they 
bloomed when the bulbs were much smaller in proportion to the 
average mature size than do those of the eastern forms. It may 
be that the same early blooming is present both in the Eurasian 
and in the western species, and that the’bulbs continue to descend 
gradually during a long period after the blossoming habit is inaugu- 
rated. Such a point is physiological rather than morphological, 
and will not be discussed further at this time. 
In the runners of E. americanum occasional “stimulation 
growths” have been noticed, apparently related to sudden excess 
of water. These are due to the bud inclosed by the runner bursting 
