403 
Geophilous Species of Peperofnia. 
In section the epigeal lamina shows water-tissue on the upper surface 
between the epidermis and palisade-tissue (Text-figs. 3 and 4, p. 402), and 
stomata and hydathodes on the lower surface. 
The lamina of the hypogeal cotyledon, which is also slightly peltate 
(Fig. 8, PI. XXIX ; Text-fig. 3, p. 402), is seen to be about five to six cells in 
thickness in a transverse section ; it remains, however, undifferentiated as far 
as its internal tissues are concerned (Fig. i< 5 , PI. XXIX). In one case two 
hydathodes were seen near the base, and in all the seedlings examined there 
were two or three stomata at the apex of the lamina, apparently on the 
lower side. The stomata in most cases had no starch in their guard-cells 1 , 
but in two cases, where a stoma was seen near the middle of the lamina, 
starch-grains were present. It seems quite clear then that we have here to 
deal with a dicotyledonous embryo, not only on account of the evidence 
afforded by the majority of the species of this genus, but also from the fact 
that the two leaves of the young seedling are directly opposite each other 
and lie with their upper surfaces in contact in the seed (Fig. 13, PL XXIX ; 
cf. Text-figs. 2 and 4, p. 402). Moreover their vascular bundles unite directly 
under the plumule at the same horizontal level to form the central stele of 
the hypocotyledonary bulb and radicle (Figs. 8 and 14, PI. XXIX). 
The plumule remains inactive throughout the early stages of germina- 
tion just described, and is seen to consist of a small dome of undifferentiated 
meristematic cells (Fig. 14). The young fully developed seedling at the 
end of the first stage of its development thus consists of the two cotyledons, 
with the rudimentary plumule, a small hypocotyledonary tuber stored with 
starch, and the primary root (Figs. 7 and 8, PI. XXIX). 
After a time, perhaps at the commencement of the dry season, the 
aerial cotyledon withers, and eventually leaves a scar, and the young plant, 
consisting of a small bulb with its primary root, becomes dormant (Fig. 9, 
PL XXIX). The hypogeal cotyledon, however, is not cut off from the bulb, 
and its lamina still remains within the seed, although it may be dead and 
withered and all the reserves of the seed exhausted. It is quite common to 
find the seeds attached to the withered cotyledon of fairly large plants 
(Figs. 10-12, Pl. XXIX; Fig. 39, PL XXX). With the return of favourable 
conditions the plumule produces the first leaf, and until the plant has attained 
to some size it never apparently has more than one leaf expanded at a time 
(Figs. TO-12, PL XXIX). Some idea of the age of a little bulb may thus 
be gathered from the number of leaf-scars or petiole-remains which can be 
found at the apex of the bulb 2 , though whether only one or several plumu- 
lar leaves are produced in succession during this second period of activity is 
unknown (cf. Fig. 12, PL XXIX). It is also uncertain how long a period 
elapses before a bulb is developed which is capable of flowering. The lamina 
1 Cf. P. pedicellata , p. 409. 
2 These small bulbs are spherical, and measure about 1*5 to 2 mm. in diameter. 
