THE STEM OR SHOOT. Ill 



this would amount to a dichotomy of the apex in the 

 sense in which the term is used in this work, while 

 the two branches would yet be axillary and hence 

 lateral. But it is also possible to regard the basal 

 sheath as resulting from the fusion of two uppermost 

 scale -leaves which do not subtend any axillary 

 branches, and in that case the phenomenon would be 

 one of true dichotomous branching. 



Martius describes and figures several instances of 

 branching in palms of several kinds. Pulny Andy 

 describes it in the fan-palm (Borassus flabelliformis) in 

 which both " dichotomy " and the production of three 

 or four apical branches occurred, and mentions also a 

 case of " dichotomy " in the coco -nut (Cocos micifera). 

 Mr. Ridley informs the writer that branching, whether 

 from the rhizome, or high upon the aerial stem, is the 

 normal feature for the majority of palms. In only a 

 comparative few is it an abnormal feature, as in the 

 coco-nut, and Areca Catechu ; in other species of Areca 

 it is normal. When branching does occur it is never 

 due to injury to the apex, either in normal or abnormal 

 cases, as has been by several writers supposed. A 

 lateral branch may appear late some way down on the 

 aerial stem, and eventually, by rapid growth, reach 

 the height and thickness of the main stem and thus 

 give rise to an appearance of dichotomy. Branching 

 is probably an ancient feature (cf, Pandanales) ; hence 

 the abnormal cases thereof may be regarded as 

 reversions. 



Amongst other cases of the formation of axillary 

 shoots where under normal circumstances none such 

 existed, may be mentioned that of a tulip which 

 produced a bulb in the axil of one of the foliage-leaves 

 through whose sheathing base it had completely burst, 

 leaving behind its brown outer coat ; the bulb was 

 shortly stalked (fig. 32). 



Dietz describes a tall maize-plant (Zea Mais) which, 

 normally unbranched in its vegetative parts, in this 

 case produced long branches, one of which, in its turn, 



