DRACÆNA REFLBXA. 
167 
every case the cauline branching is observable at varying 
levels along the thin leader. As will be seen later, branch- 
ing of the stem may occur in seedlings only a few months 
old. 
Development . — The seeds when fresh are green, circular, 
and hard. If sown immediately after plucking, they ger- 
minate within a period of two months, and if dried for some 
time in the open before sowing, an earlier vitality is mani- 
fest. The seedling is of the hypogeal type, and the cotyledon, 
together with the greater part of the reserve food enclosed 
by the hard testa, becomes detached at an early period. The 
primary root is white and fleshy, and tapers strongly towards 
the apex. It is followed at an early stage by a pair of 
secondary roots, which arise from near the hypogeal coty- 
ledonary node, and, though usually remaining thin and 
thread like, attain a considerable length. 
Subsequent to the dropping of the cotyledon, stout white 
roots arise from the root stock area, and the primary root 
changes to a faint red colour and gives ofiC numerous branches. 
The roots formed during the flrst twelve months invari- 
ably strongly assert their positive geotropism, and, with the 
exception of one specimen exhibiting congenital concres- 
cense, no abnormal developmental features were presented. 
The aerial shoot has in twelve months’ time attained a 
height of 15 to 20cm., and borne upwards of thirty leaves. 
Usually it remains undivided during the first twelve 
months, but a few examples were seen in which lateral shoots 
developed from the lower part of the stem. This was the 
earliest indication of the branching, which in older plants 
gives rise to the arborescent type just referred to. It 
may be worth while to mention that seeds were sown in 
different parts of the Island, and the dry climate of Anuradha- 
pura proved unsuitable for continued development. Even 
established plants when forwarded to the branch garden in 
this district failed to develop. 
