DR THOMAS R. ERASER ON STROPHANTHUS HISPIDUS. 



987 



in the twenty follicles of average size (Table V.) is 0'458 grain, the inference may be 

 drawn that the average weight of a mature seed of Sti^ophanthus hispidus is from about 

 0*4 to 0'6 grain. 



Magnified longitudinal and transverse sections of the seed, and illustrations of its 

 microscopical structure, are given in Plate VI., and a somewhat diagrammatic repre- 

 sentation of a longitudinal antero-posterior section in Plate VII. fig. 1. In the latter, 

 the raphe and funiculus are shown. 



While great variations are met with in the length of the plumose appendage of the 

 seed, it may in general terms be stated to be shortest in the smallest and lightest follicles, 

 and longest in the largest and heaviest. The variations may be illustrated by the fol- 

 lowing measurements of the appendages of seeds from the upper, middle, and lower parts 

 of three follicles, the follicles themselves being representative of those of small, medium, 

 and large size (Table VII.) 



Table VII 



Follicle. 



Length. 



8 inches, 



10 „ 



16 



Weight. 



135 grains, < 



194 „ i 



312 T„- 1 



Position of Seed 

 in Follicle. 



Top, . 

 Middle, 

 Base, . 

 Top, . 

 Middle, 

 Base, . 

 Top, . 

 Middle, 

 Base, . 



Coraose Appendage. 



Length of 

 Naked 

 Portion. 



0-96 inch. 

 1-03 „ 



1-28 

 109 



0-96 

 0-81 



1-18 



1-25 



1-21 

 1-31 



1-56 

 1-09 



2-87 

 2-81 



312 

 253 



2-09 

 2-25 



Length of 

 Tuft. 



1-18 inch. 



153 „ 



1-56 „ 



1-81 „ 



1-4 „ 



1-18 „ 



181 „ 



15 „ 



1-96 „ 



1-84 „ 



1-96 „ 



1-81 „ 



2-68 „ 



2-75 „ 



2-81 „ 



2-78 „ 



2-12 „ 



2-218 „ 



Total 

 Length. 



2"1 4 inches 

 2-56 „ 



2-84 

 2-9 



2 36 

 1-99 



2-99 

 2-75 



3-17 

 315 



3-116 



2-9 



5-55 

 5-56 



5-93 

 5-31 



4-21 



4-468 



Size of Seed. 



0-53x0-12 inch 

 0-5 x009 „ 



0-53x014 „ 

 0-56x014 ,, 



0-43x0 14 „ 

 0-4 xO-13 „ 



0-68x0-15 „ 

 0-68x0-14 „ 



0-65x0-156,, 

 0-68x0-13 „ 



0-68x0-12 „ 

 0-65x0-09 „ 



0-81x0-2 „ 

 0-93x0-18 „ 



0-87x0-2 „ 

 0-92x0-19 „ 



0-53x0-156,, 

 0-59x0-18 „ 



Weight of 

 Seed. 



032 gr. 



03 „ 



0-295 „ 



0-32 ,, 



0-26 „ 



0-15 „ 



0-46 „ 



0-51 „ 



039 „ 



0-44 „ 



0-39 „ 



0-31 „ 



0-45 „ 



0-88 „ 



0-8 „ 



088 „ 



065 „ 



025 „ 



The measurements in the above Table show that the longest comose appendages occur 

 at the middle of each follicle, and that the shortest are more frequently at the base than 

 at the top. They also show that the tufted portion of the appendage is generally of 



VOL. XXXV. PART IV. (NO. 21). 7 L 



