LENGTH OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF A CLIMBING BAMBOO 
91 
David ^Watt is of the opinion that he first saw Chusquea in flower in the fall 
of 191 7. I myself collected a few fruiting branches in the early summer of 
1 919. The climbing bamboo was, therefore, probably at the height of its 
flowering period in 1885 and in 191 8, making the cycle one of thirty- three 
years. 
jl have referred to the possible effect of environment on change in time 
of flowering. Equally interesting, and possibly as difficult of solution, is 
Fig. 5. Fruits of Chusquea ahietifolia. Collector, William[Harris. 
the ultimate cause of the simultaneous flowering of nearly all plants in a 
certain locality. The obvious suggestion, often made in such cases, that 
this peculiarity is innate, does not, of course, solve the problem. It simply 
indicates that we must seek our explanation in causes operative before the 
initiation of the individual. 
Attempts to associate the sexual periodicity of plants with seasonal or 
