23 



Their distribution is characteristically irregular; ,in fact, one does 

 not find them in the yoting epidermis. In the leaves, ,both young and adult, 

 with the aid of osmic acid one can find no trace of the elaioplasts. They 

 are found, however, always in the epidermis of the pedicels/ of the floral 

 bracts. 



Bnscus racemosus Linn, 



If one examines the epidermal tissue of the still young scaley leaves 

 of this species, one will find in the cytoplasm of some or all of the cells 

 elaioplasts having, in the adult stage, dimensions which frequently exceed 

 those of the nucleus and a variable form v/hich ass-umes a form characteristic 

 of the elaioplasts of Omithogalum umbellatuca. Such elaioplasts 'are color- 

 less and refractije and do not ass-ume a fixed position in the cell, 



Wat son ia hTanilis Mill. 



From studies made by me it appears that in the Iridaceae the elaioplasts 

 are flot diffused things, as in the case of the Orchidaceae, .the Maryllidaceae, 

 and the Liliaceae. 



In fact, vifherever I have examined many representatives of such families 

 I have found them only in Y/atsonia hvimilis . 



They appear in this species in the epidermis of tubers, Ihen completely 

 developed they are large (volviminous) , of iicaensions more or less similar to 

 those of the nucleus, of rotund form, oval or irregular, and pale ochre in 

 color. 



In many respects their structure is notably that of a constitution of 

 small and very numerous spherical elements and in the further stages of their 

 development they show vacuoles which render them granulose or spongy. 



