96 
the most recent observers of these stems, Herr Nageli, has 
recently demonstrated their presence in each of the sur- 
rounding woody masses (Dickenwachsthum des Stengels... 
bei den Sapindaceen. Munich, 1864). 
A short summary of their mode of growth, communicated 
to the French Academy by Monsieur Netto, will be found 
in “Comptes Rendus,” t. 57, pp. 554 — 55 7, 21 Sep., 1863, 
from which it would appear that a young stem, two to 
three weeks old, exhibits a number of fibro-vascular bundles 
in the midst of an outer zone of cellular tissue, one bundle 
being formed opposite the innermost portion of each of the 
external groves of the stem ; so that from its very earliest 
stage the stem exhibits all the rudiments of the lateral 
strands which surround the core. Around each of the 
fibro-vascular bundles a mass of liber is formed, at first 
crescent shaped, but afterwards annular ; and by the growth 
and union of these several parts the stem soon assumes its 
peculiar composite character. 
Leguminosoe. 
Another group of lianas, presenting some external resem- 
blance to the sinuous Malpighiads, is met with in plants 
which belong to this natural order of the genera Bauhinia 
and Schnella. In the Brazils they bear the name of Oipo 
cl’Escada , from their resemblance to a ladder, but Jussieu 
restricts this name to the Schnella macrostachys (“Memoire,” 
p. 118.) 
They are chiefly remarkable for depositing their woody 
fibres on two sides only of the central pith, so that their 
stems have a singular flat tape-like appearance, presenting 
in section the outline of an elongate ©©, the position of the 
pith being at the intersection of the two loops. The pith 
however by no means maintains its central position, for 
according to the researches of M. Netto, the growth of 
branches brings about a lateral deposit of woody matter, 
