the Young Epicotyl in some Ranalean Forms. 
1 77 
that of Aquilegia in the phyllotaxis and elongated nodes, but the features of 
the cotyledonary node and hypocotyl are similar to those found in that genus. 
Lauraceae. 
This order also seems to be noted as having unilacunar leaf-trace 
insertion in the adult plant. 
The seedlings of Laurus Sassafras and L. nobilis have been examined, 
but in a rather old condition. 
Germination is hypogeal. The first few foliage leaves are mere scales, 
and the phyllotaxis is two-fifths. The leaf-trace insertion in the seedling is 
also unilacunar, and the triple nature of the trace is only to be observed 
above the point of insertion. Secondary thickening in the vascular cylinder 
had progressed so far that it was impossible to identify the primary bundles 
with any certainty. 
Although unfortunately so little material of Ranalean plants, other 
than those belonging to the order Ranunculaceae, has been obtained, it was 
thought worth while to include descriptions of such forms as have been 
examined. One reason for their inclusion was that they add a little to 
Mr. Sinnott’s information with regard to the leaf-trace insertion, showing as 
they do that, even in forms with a multilacunar insertion in the adult, as in 
Magnolia , or unilacunar, as in Anona , the seedling may show the trilacunar 
form. A further reason was that although the habit in these tree forms is 
so different from that of the herbaceous Ranunculaceae, still the seedlings 
show an essential similarity. 
Summary and Conclusions. 
The investigation of the structure of the epicotyl in Ranalean seedlings 
has shown a somewhat remarkable uniformity. There are certain features 
characteristic of all the seedlings examined, but those of the Ranunculaceae 
and Berberidaceae show a much closer resemblance to one another. 
The general ground plan for the group shows the following features : 
(1) a two-fifths phyllotaxy ; 
(2) a trilacunar leaf-trace insertion ; 
(3) a ring of bundles connected at an early age by a cambium which 
forms secondary tissue. 
Although no single feature is uniformly present in its typical form, it is 
uncommon to find deviations, and where they occur they are usually con- 
fined to one of the characters. In addition to the general features just 
mentioned there are certain others characteristic of the herbaceous and 
shrubby forms of Ranunculaceae and Berberidaceae, as distinct from the 
plants with tree habit. The axis is very shortened and clothed with the 
sheathing bases of the petioles ; the cotyledons are frequently fused into 
a tube at their base ; the leaf trace in the base of the leaf consists of three 
N 
