156 JOUKNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



continued up into the ovaries. Thus fig. 83 represents a cross-section of 

 the ovaries of the twin Eucharis, in which it will be seen that there are 

 only ten cords instead of the normal number, twelve. The two which 

 should be on the line of union are wanting and represented by O's. The 

 consequence was that the two coherent flowers were pentamerous instead 

 of being hexamerous. 



A fasciated stem, if theoretically composed of several stems, should 



Fig. 83. — Transverse section of ovarii s 

 of twin Eucharis. 



Fig. 84. — Transverse section of base of 

 stem of a young Cockscomb. 



have them indicated by constrictions, as in fig. 82 ; but it has no such 

 indentations to mark off each of the combined axes. 



Lastly, if the fasciated stem consisted of coherent shoots, it would be 

 expected to become smaller in diameter upwards, as each shoot, being 

 naturally conical in form, terminated upwards in succession. On the 

 contrary, the stem often increases much in size, as is familiar to all in the 

 Cockscomb. 



The external stri* were supposed to represent " the lines of 

 junction " but they are far too numerous, and are not simple cords from 

 end to end, but often branching. 



If we study the anatomy of the stem of a young Cockscomb, the lowest 

 part has a perfectly normal circle of cords, forming the usual cylinder. 

 (Fig. 84.) These cords continually branch and increase the number, as 

 seen in higher sections. (Figs. 85, 86.) The diameter of the stem at the 



Fig. 85. — Transverse section of middle 

 of stem of same. 



Fig. 86. — Transverse section of upper 

 fasciated part of same. 



same time enlarges, being somewhat quadrangular, but finally it assumes 

 the usual flattened form. From time to time a cord passes off to enter a 

 leaf (figs. 85, 86) ; but those which would normally go to supply the 

 axillary bud fail to put in an appearance. 



So that instead of their appearing externally as the cylinders of freely 

 growing branches, they keep augmenting the size of the stem by bifurcation 



* Masters, op. cit. p. 16. 



