198 Gibbs. — Bio-histological notes on some new 
scale a horizontal fold occurs, and there the young corms break through, 
the two margins being gradually pushed apart by the growth of the corm- 
lets (Text-fig. 2, ygc.), leaving the same laciniate margins as on the 
longitudinal segments. The peltate base of the tunic then separates off 
as a round scale (Text-figs. 2 and %p.b) while the upper portion remains 
as a persistent ring round the neck of the corm (Text-fig. 1, /.). In Text- 
fig. 4, where the base of last year’s tunic has been removed, the young corm 
in its axil is seen resting against the base of this year’s scale-leaf. In spe- 
cimens of H. matopensis collected three to four of these rings only were 
Fig. 4. 
Hesperantha matopensis. 
counted, but in a specimen of H. falcata Ker. Gawl. (Brit. Mus.) as many 
as eight scales were seen, occurring one above the other. 
The tissue of the scale-leaf is composed of several layers of parenchyma, 
the inside layers of which lignify, while the outer ones remain membranous 
and form a white skin on both surfaces. The laciniation of the margins is 
caused by the splitting of the scale-tissue (a section through one of these 
teeth as shown in PI. XII, Fig. 17, Ip,). Faint vascular strands consisting 
of one or two vessels run longitudinally down the scales, but are of no 
account in the development ; the dark-brown colour is due to some form of 
colouring matter, not tannin, which only dissolves out after a week’s soak- 
