VEGETATIVE REPRODUCTION IN ARUM MACULUTUM 177 



the wire the following year. Other methods were also used; several corms dug up in 

 the resting period (August) were arranged round a central rod or placed carefully in 

 line, and the positions of their shoots measured in successive years. In experiments 

 involving 87 corms the total distance moved was 99 cm., an average of 1-12 cm per corm. 

 The considerable variation in the individual result is plainly related to many factors. One 

 is the point of origin of the bud giving rise to the next year's shoot, i.e. whether it originates, 



Fig, 2. Map of an Arum colony. The arrows indicate the direction and growth of length of corm. 



(Ground scale X i ; Corm lengths X 



with reference to the main axis, behind, to the side of, or in front of the previous year's 

 shoot. Another is the size of the corm itself which will be influenced by the habitat, 

 and another the texture of the soil which will resist the movement. 



The clone shown in Fig. 2 measured about 40 cm. across and the only data available 

 suggest that the plant takes seven years to flower from the time of sowing. The first 

 corms are small and in the first seven years it might be said that the corms move about 



Table 2. 

 The death rate of Arum corms. 



Date 



Number of corms used 



Number of originals lost 



1948-49 



200 



16 



1949-50 



200 



24 



