S2 



A NATUJIALIST'S WAJS'DEIiJNGS 



radiated the galleries teaanted by ants and tbeij krvie of the 

 same species as in Java. 



Since my original observations, Dr. jrelchior Treub, Director 

 of the Botanic Gardens in Buitenzorg, boa conducted and pub- 

 lished * a series of important researches into the development 

 of these bizarre plaad^, which have coulirmed generally the 

 observations I had made, and have proved besides that what 

 I have called degeneration is the result of a transformation 

 into corJc of the tissue of the plant ; which, becoming entirely 

 dried np, gradually extends the galleries towards the exterior, 

 when the fluffy mass disappears or is carried out by the ants. 



Notwithstanding these researches it remains still a mystery 

 what causes the development of these corky cells, what advan- 

 tage the plant derives from its unusual structure, and what is 

 the mutual benefit of this close relation between insect and 

 plant. That the ants should so persistently infest and yet 

 derive no advantage beyond accommodation from the plaot, 

 seems unlikely ; it is probable however that the papillie in 

 the galleries, whose function is still an enigma, may affo^il jome 

 nourishment to them, but that the insects are not absolutely 

 indispensable to the perfect performance of the functions of the 

 l>lant is certain from Dr. Treub's observations. He suggests that 

 they i^erhaps ward off enemies from the plant » or that they may 

 remove, for their own nourishment, injurious excretions from 

 the papillte of these channels whose office may be to distribute 

 air through the fleshy mass of the bulb. Altogether these 

 Myrmecodia are among the most singiUar of vegetable pro- 

 ductions, showing us how much we have yet to learu of the 

 intricate processes of nature, 



I gathered here another interesting specimen in some 

 leaves of the Bri/02>hjUum mlijeinum. As is well kuown^ the 

 marginal notches of the leaves of this plant, when laid on th« 

 ground or in a damp place, produce buds which develop iuto 

 new plants. In the leaves I gathered here, huwever, comiflvte 

 flmvers and fruit were produced directly fi'om the notches. 



While botanising in Portugal, in the spring of 1877,t I was 

 remarkably struck by the number of orchids I gathered that 



♦ Id the * AnnaJejs,' sup. cit,, vol. iii.»pp. 130-157, from which tlie accom- 

 panying figures here reproduced are taken, 

 t Nattift, vol. svi. p. 102. 



