397 
Physiology of Fasciated Seedlings. 
appeared ‘ spontaneously 5 ; that is to say, the fasciation was not artificially 
induced by amputation of the growing point. Although I was not able to 
determine with absolute certainty the immediate factor which brought 
about the fasciation, a careful examination of the seedling showed that the 
development of the main shoot had been interfered with and its growth 
checked. This check may have been due to mechanical injury of the grow- 
ing point, or the apical bud may have been attacked by a fungus or insects, 
&c. As a result of the check the axillary shoots developed and became 
strongly fasciated. This seedling is figured in Fig. 9. 
Vicia Faba. 
Seedlings of this plant were also grown and treated in a similar manner 
to those of P. multifloriis. Fasciations were obtained, but they were not 
nearly so pronounced or numerous as in the case of P. multifloriis. 
The same general features were observed in the hypocotyledonary 
anatomy, but never more than three vascular rings were met with. 
PlSUM SATIVUM. 
Seedlings of this plant were similarly treated, but here again, while 
fasciations were produced, they were few in number. 
It will be noticed that the three types of seedling above studied are all 
of the hypogeal type and all show fasciations to a greater or lesser degree. 
It was therefore thought desirable to test the power for producing fasciation 
in epigeal seedlings. 
B. Epigeal Types. 
Phaseolus vidgaris (French Bean), vulgaris (var. ?) (Butter Bean), 
Lupinus Douglassii , Ricinus communis , and Cucurbit a Pepo were chosen 
because of the fleshy nature of their cotyledons or because of the large 
amount of reserve food available to the seedlings. 
The seedlings were grown in pots along with the types already studied, 
and also grown separately in pots with the other types as controls grown 
near to them. They were subjected to treatment similar to that which the 
previously studied types had undergone. Although the cotyledonary 
shoots developed in many instances, in no case was a fasciation produced. 
Is this power of the hypogeal type of seedling to produce fasciations an 
accidental quality which is not possessed by the epigeal type, or is it that 
the food reserves of the two types of seedling differ in quality or quantity ? 
It has frequently been stated by other observers that an abundant 
supply of food material is necessary for the production of fasciations. 
Analyses were made of the seeds of P. multifloriis , P. vulgaris , and 
Vicia Faba. For these analyses I am greatly indebted to Mr. T. J. Ward, 
of the Chemical Department of St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School. 
Paddington. 
