284 
BRYCE : 
upper surface of the stem a copious production of new shoots 
occurs. These are derived from the latent buds which are 
stimulated to growth by the altered conditions. This indi- 
cates the readiness with which Hevea brasiliensis responds to 
changed conditions, the latent buds and globular shoots if 
present growing out into normal shoots. Similarly, standing 
trees if scorched by fire throw out large numbers of shoots 
from the adjacent unharmed cortex. 
On leaf -scars a row of globular shoots may be found fused 
together to the number of five or six individual shoots ; this 
demonstrates that several buds are laid down in each leaf 
axil and remain latent, unless conditions change and become 
suitable for a resumption of activity. 
In both tapped and untapped trees globular shoots are 
occasionally obtained which have a central core of very small 
cells with strongly thickened walls. In these the vascular 
connections are completely wanting, nor do any cases occur 
where the vascular connection has been covered over in the 
subsequent growth of the shoot. Here undoubtedly the bud 
has lain dormant for some time and has slowly developed 
thickened walls, while at the same time the pressure of the 
surrounding tissue has prevented the cells from increasing 
in size. The absence of any point which might represent a 
vestigial vascular connection with the stem shows that the bud 
early lost connection with the stem and remained in a com- 
pletely dormant state. Later, under some change of condi- 
tions, cell activity set in in the cells adjacent to the mass of 
small thickened cells of the bud, and resulted in the production 
of a globular shoot. 
Many globular shoots consist entirely of wood elements, 
more or less tortuous, and show no traces of a former connec- 
tion with the stem wood. In these the bud primordium may 
have become separated from the stem wood at a very early 
stage before the vascular connection had become differentiated 
into wood elements. 
In the course of growth globular shoots are pushed outwards, 
and may come to have their outer surface exposed. In many 
cases the exposed surfaces are again covered over with tissue, 
but they are readily distinguished in sections owing to the 
