Nos. 455-456.] COMMON ROADSIDE PLANTS. 827 



localized development, seen in the early spring growth. This is 

 due to the lack of strength in the latest part of the season's 

 growth and a consequent reduction follows. In this senescence 

 then, the same stages are found, but they are developed in the 

 reverse^ order. 



Sambiicus canaden 



L. Figures 24-25. 



Elder.) 



This seedling of this plant was not obtained, but one of 

 another species, S. nigra, is figured by Lubbock {Seedlings, vol. 

 II, p. 51, Fig. 420). In this species the leaves are in pairs. 

 The two first pairs of nepionic leaves are simple, toothed, and 

 the third pair is trifoliolate. 



In the early spring growth of our species there are first, leaf- 

 like bracts shown in Fig- 

 ures 24 and 25. These 

 are notched or toothed 

 at the distal end. In 

 most cases there are 

 three of these teeth or in 

 some cases five. These 

 teeth seem to represent 

 the reduced leaflets of a 

 compound leaf — in the 

 commonest case a trifo- 

 liolate one. In such a ^^'^ 



case the first true leaf is trifoliolate or it may have five leaflets. 

 In some cases, after the three-toothed bract there is a five-toothed 

 one, usually more expanded and leaflike. Such a form is not 

 followed by a trifoliolate leaf, but, in all the cases noted, by a 

 leaf with five leaflets. These teeth then appear to represent the 

 reduced leaflets, for if they did not there would be no reason 

 against producing a trifoliolate leaf directly after the five- 

 toothed bract. These bracts might be thought of as the stage 

 representing a simple toothed leaf, but this definite succession 

 of a leaf with five leaflets after a bract with five teeth seems to 

 indicate them as reduced leaflets and not true teeth. 



