48 Salisbury . — Variation in Eranthis hy emails, 
almost immediately on entering the leaf and again diverge, other smaller 
veins branching off at the same time (cf. Fig. io, A-c). 
The members of the outer whorl of the perianth are broad and, on 
removal, show a scar with from five to three vascular bundles (cf. Fig. 2 , K), 
of which the three median bundles are large and the two lateral bundles 
(not always present) small. The three inner perianth members are narrower 
than the outer and usually supplied by only three vascular strands (Fig. 2 , L), 
or less commonly by two or even one vascular bundle. In all cases there 
appears to be but a single strand which leaves the receptacular stele, but 
this sooner or later gives off two main lateral branches in succession. The 
variation in the number of bundles, as seen on the scar when a perianth 
segment is removed, is due 
to differences in the level 
at which this trifurcation 
takes place. Payer (1857) 
was therefore incorrect in 
writing, ‘Si Ton arrache ces 
six petales, on remarque 
dans chaque cicatrice des 
trois petales externes l’em- 
preinte de trois faisceaux 
fibro-vasculaires, et dans 
chaque cicatrice des trois 
petales internes l’em- 
preinte d’un seul faisceau 
fibro-vasculaire \ No dis- 
tinction with regard to the 
vascular supply can be 
drawn between the mem- 
bers of the outer and inner 
whorl beyond the fact that the broader outer perianth segments usually 
exhibit more main strands than do the narrower segments of the inner 
whorl. As we shall see later, supernumerary perianth segments are by 
no means infrequent, and these usually are narrower even than the inner 
perianth segments, and, like the latter when they too are narrow, fre- 
quently exhibit a scar with only one vascular bundle. Sometimes these 
supernumerary perianth segments are, however, broader when the bundle 
branches into three almost at the level of its insertion. The vascular 
organization of all perianth segments is consequently essentially similar, 
the minor distinctions being related to their breadth. 
Within the perianth there are most commonly found six nectaries, or 
honey-leaves, which arise in pairs opposite each of the outer perianth seg- 
ments. The nectary on removal exhibits a scar with a single vascular 
Fig. i. Flower of Eranthis hyeynalis. The roman 
numerals indicate the order of dehiscence. 
