On the leaves of Lathraea Squamaria and of 
some allied Scrophulariaceae. 
BY 
PERCY GROOM, M.A.. F.L.S. 
With Woodcut 7. 
I N a former paper (8) I have attempted to show that certain 
saprophytes possess structures which enable them to get 
rid of any excess of water absorbed during their subterranean 
period of existence. In particular, I drew attention to the 
fact that saprophytes may possess stomata or peculiar 
epidermal patches on their underground shoots, which would 
facilitate the excretion of water either as liquid or vapour. 
It seemed probable that if my suggested explanation of 
these histological details were correct, some corresponding 
mechanisms might be discovered in other geophilous plants, 
and even in parasites accustomed to a partially subterranean 
mode of life. 
Lathraea Squamaria suggested itself as a favourable subject 
for study, particularly as this plant can go through its whole 
cycle of life completely embedded in the soil; even form- 
ing cleistogamic subterranean flowers, and being capable of 
regenerating itself, when broken, by means of fragments of its 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. XI. No. XLIII. September, 1897.] 
