MacDougal. — Symbiotic Saprophytism. 13 
Fungus in the offshoot is merely in transit. At the apex of 
the offshoot, the base of the corm, the roots spring from the 
offshoot and the Fungus passes into them directly, as could 
be seen in longitudinal sections. That this method of trans- 
mission of the Fungus from the parent to vegetative offspring 
is followed, is confirmed by the fact that the Fungus was not 
found in offshoots springing from corms on the surface of or 
above the soil. 
The Leaves. The scales arising from the three nodes of 
the corm attain a length of 2 to 5 cm., and closely sheathe the 
base of the stalk of the terminal leaf. The scales are first 
whitish, like the corm, but they soon die and turn brown. 
This process is hastened by the presence of a parasitic fungus, 
probably Phyllosticta Aplectri. 
The stalk upon which the leaf is borne is an obtusely 
four-angled structure with enclosed central cavity, and has 
a length of 3 to 5 cm. to a nodal point at the lower end of 
the lamina, denoted by a slight swelling immediately below 
a constriction. The constriction marks the outer edge of 
a layer of scission-tissue. 
The epidermis consists chiefly of flattened cylindrical cells 
with the outer wall cuticularized. The hypoderm is separated 
from the cortex by large intercellular spaces giving rise to 
the whitish appearance of the stalk. Scattered stomata open 
through the epidermis into small air-cavities. Both outer 
layers are rich in protoplasm. The cortex is copiously 
developed, and the cylindrical elements exhibit very large 
intercellular spaces. The ectoplasmic layer is heavy and 
densely granular. The fibro-vascular bundles are about 
twenty-seven in number. The parenchyma- sheath is well 
defined. The xylem exhibits normal development, and its 
cross-section in mature stalks is equal to that of the phloem. 
The lamina, which is ovate-lanceolate in outline, has the 
appearance of a hairy leaf. This is due to the development 
of cuticle in the form of knobs and ridges. Stomata are 
present on both surfaces. The epidermis is rich in protoplasm 
and remains so until disintegration begins. The palisade- 
