254 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [APRIL 
of Datura Stramonium have been found by careful experiments to 
be light inhibited and to require total darkness and a temperature 
of about 30°C. for germination. They are accordingly reserved 
for a future study. Detailed study of the germination of Phora- 
dendron flavescens seeds was deferred on account of the peculiar 
slimy ovary and the chlorophyll-bearing embryo. Seeds of Nzco- 
tiana Tabacum, Rumex crispus, Oenothera biennis, Verbascum Thap- 
sus, and Daucus Carota were selected for this research because of 
their abundance and similar incubation periods. 
Germination in light and darkness 
Preliminary tests of Rumex crispus seeds on wet filter paper 
gave a germination of 84 per cent in light and 16 per cent in dark- 
ness after 8 days of incubation. 
TABLE I 
Percentage Percentage 
Treatment germination in | germination 
light in darkness 
Cleaned, dried, and soaked in 
eral water for 24 hours 
and incubated... 2.6. ..44 16 6 
Cleaned, rea and incubated 24 6 
Cleaned, soaked for 4 days, and 
Medelet 8 12 2 
Preliminary tests of germination of seeds of Phoradendron 
flavescens, suggested by WiesNER’s (51) results with seeds of 
Viscum album, are given in table I. Seeds prepared as indicated in 
table I were counted into Petri dishes containing wet filter paper 
as substratum and placed in light and total darkness to incubate 
at room temperature, which ranged from 18-25°C. The incubation 
period was 27 days. These results indicate that light favors the 
germination of seeds of Phoradendron flavescens. On account of 
the sticky nature of the pulpy ovary and the succulence of the single 
fleshy green embryo, it was almost impossible to remove the mass 
of enveloping material without leaving a favorable substratum for 
molds and bacteria on the one hand, and without injury to the 
embryo on the other hand. Moreover, with the best of care many 
of the seeds failed to germinate and became moldy. With these 
