397 
Geophilous Species of 'Peperomia . 
creeping ; in both cases adventitious roots are borne on the rhizome 1 . The 
arrangement of the leaves agrees with that described for the South American 
species. Perhaps the most interesting point brought to light by a study of 
these plants is the structure of their seedlings, together with the mode 
of germination and development of the mature plant. These features will 
be described in detail under the headings of the separate species ; but, for 
the sake of clearness, it may be stated here that in all the various species 
whose seedlings have been found, the structure is modelled on the same 
plan 2 . The seedlings have all the external characteristics of those of 
Monocotyledons, for the seed is hypogeal and contains an absorbent organ, 
whilst a small green leaf protrudes above the soil (Fig. 7, PL XXIX). On 
examination, however, it is found that both cotyledons are present, but that 
they have become modified to perform different functions, for one remains 
permanently within the seed and serves to absorb the reserve materials 
from the perisperm, whilst the other is drawn out of the seed and serves as 
an assimilating organ (cf. Fig. 8 , PL XXIX, and Text-figs. 3-5, p. 402) 3 . 
As has been mentioned above, the geophilous species from South and 
Central America appear to be distinct from one another, and after a careful 
examination of all the available material at Kew and at the British 
Museum, it seems highly probable that these two widely separated districts 
are now quite distinct regions, at any rate as far as this particular group of 
plants is concerned, and that they have no species in common 4 . Thus, so 
far as our knowledge goes at present, there appears to be a large tract of 
country, extending from Peru to Guatemala 5 , from which we have no 
record of any geophilous species with a pseudo-monocotyledonous method 
of seed- germination ; whether forms like P. Sprucei, C. DC. 6 , from the 
borders of Peru and Ecuador, which appear to have a more or less tuberous 
rhizome and radical leaves, should be included is uncertain ; but although 
no seedlings have been found, the locality 7 for the species suggests that 
it is probably not a member of this pseudo-monocotyledonous group. 
A great deal of confusion about the various bulbous species and their 
habits exists in the literature of the subject, and even the recent mono- 
graph by Dahlstedt has failed to clear up the matter satisfactorily. 
According to the different authorities 8 , P. umbilicata, R. and P. 9 , is recorded 
1 In P. ovato-peltata, C. DC., from Costa Rica, the roots emerge from the upper surface of 
the tubers. 
2 In addition to the material collected in Peru, I have had the good fortune to find seedlings 
and young plants in various stages of development in the dry mud adhering to the roots of several 
Mexican specimens in the Herbaria of Kew and of the British Museum. ’ 
3 Vide Hill, A. W., Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc., xiii, p. 20, 1905. 
4 Vide footnote, p. 2, Gaudichaud, No. -150. 
5 A distance of about 2,000 miles by land and of about 1,500 miles in a direct line. 
6 Seeman’s Joum. Bot, 1866, iv, p. 133 ; Prod., XVI, i, p. 394 ; Dahlst., 1 . c., p. 41. 
7 Tarapoto, on a tributary of the Huallaga, NW. Peru, alt. 1,170 ft. 
8 Miquel, Syst. Pip., p. 70 ; C. DC., Prodromus, XVI, i, p. 393 ; Dahlst., 1 . c., p. 31. 
9 The species was founded by Ruiz and Pavon (vide FI. Peru, p. 30) on a Peruvian specimen. 
