certain Species of the Genus Christisonia . 127 
C. neilgherrica, Gardn. 
It is to be regretted that no roots of this species were 
available for examination, as, owing to the depth at which 
they grow in the soil, it was found by those who attempted 
it an almost impossible task to dig them out. As this species 
is quite distinct from either of the other two, so much so that 
by some it has been placed in a separate genus, an examina- 
tion of its root-structure might have been invaluable in helping 
to elucidate some of the important peculiarities in the other 
two species. 
This plant possesses thick, stout stems of considerable 
length, viz. about 12 to 16 inches. They usually taper from 
a narrow base up to a very thick and much swollen portion, 
gradually tapering again towards the summit, where the 
flowers are borne. The swollen portion of the stem is thickly 
clothed with imbricating, suborbicular adpressed scales, which 
in their lower part are of considerable thickness, tapering, 
wedge-like, towards the apex ; the uppermost scales are 
much narrower and more concave, and are less adpressed, 
projecting from the stem. In the axils of these small upper- 
most scales or bracts are borne large numbers of flowers, 
which are compactly arranged in a large, roundish head 
(Fig. 25). They are borne each on a long stalk bearing two 
opposite lanceolate bracteoles. 
Anatomy of the Stem . 
In transverse section the ground-tissue consists of cells 
which are more or less hexagonal or roundish in shape, and 
pretty compactly placed. They are full of starch-grains. 
There are cells here and there, especially in the epidermis, 
which are crammed full of immense numbers of small round 
bodies, probably fungal spores ; in some cells these are 
exceedingly small, in others large and dark coloured. 
The vascular bundles form a rather irregular ring ; they are 
arranged side by side in groups, these being separated by 
