233 
s appearance at the top of the stem "o preceded by the evolution 
one or more leaves smaller than the re 
Observations on this point have been d lately at Kew. (1.) A 
stem of M. sapientum, about 12 months old, was cut down before 
flowering when nearly, but not quite, fully grown. The whole stem 
was 15 feet high. Cut ye ae it showed at the base a conical 
body rising in “the centre about 8 inches above the attachment of the 
outermost leaves. From the Mies of the cone the flower bud had 
; n 
diameter. The bud itself was found about 4 inches higher. In this 
case it had evidently just begun to grow. (2.) In a plant of M: Basjoo, 
apparently fully grown, the conical axis was 10 inches in diameter at 
the base, invested at that point by a few leaf-sheaths. A foot higher 
with the stem of leaf-sheaths 9 inches in diameter, the flower stalk was 
d M. 
already borne fruit was examined. as about 12 feet high. At à 
foot above the conical base the fruiting stalk, cut through, was one and 
three-quarter inches in diameter. It pr reserved the same diameter and 
was traced as a slender, white, fibrous body, over 12 feet high, closely 
invested by the leaf-sheaths, until it emerged from amongst the petioles 
of the leaves. It then became coloured green and curved downwards. 
These observations fully confirm what has just been quoted from 
Dr. Graham. They show that the rate of growth of the flower bud 
must be very rapid. In the tropies where the whole plant matures and 
rijénd its fruit I 12 months, the flower bud mem takes only 
a few weeks to push its way from the base to the top of the stem. From 
the time of flowering until the Sart is ripe takes about six to jr weeks. 
In the non-stoloniferous species the whole plant is strictly monocarpic, 
and paragon itself not by ten but by seeds.* The majority of 
species are, however, reproduced by buds or shoots which spring from 
the perennial rootstock. 
The shape of the pseudo-stem varies a good deal. In one section 
the stems are bottle-shaped, having a swollen distended appearance. 
This is very noticeable in M. superba. Usually the stem is cylindrical, 
gradually tapering from the base upwards. In M. Ensete the stem 
is 6 to 10 feet high, and very stout. - In M. Hillii it is about 30 feet high, 
and moderately stout only. Again, in M. Manni, it is only 2-3 feet high 
he stems of most species are green, with occasional blotches of 
black, red, or purple. "Those in the banana M. s tentum) are often 
described as green and “ purple spotted "; while in the Quen, (variety 
M. paradisiaca) they are said to be wholly * green." These characters 
are, h wever, not constant. The stem of M. (sapientum) dacca is 
“ pruinose,” and appears covered with glittering particles of fine dew. In 
M. (sapientum) rubra the stem is dull-red, while the interesting M. 
ehi has a ipm stem with violet juice. 
* Kurz, however,remarks that even in nop -stoloniferous species shoots are 
occasionally produced. **I remember," he says, * 4 P lant of vemm dude in the 
tanical Gardens at Java, which threw out shoots; and if ints 
be ont —— is said to make shoots if ie “bóle innt 4 is eut doen utes 
flowering." 
