212 Takeda. — Some Points in the Morphology of the 
Fraxinus excelsior, by Miss Chick 1 for Torreya Myristica, and by Hill and 
de Fra in e 2 for Cupressus torulosa , Abies sibirica , Finns montana var. gallica , 
P. contort a var. Murray ana , Araucaria Cunning hamii , &c., are therefore 
worthy of notice. 
From the evidence given above, the conjecture may be justified that the 
direct ancestors of the Stellatae possibly had two stipules at each node, and 
that each one of these two stipules had been derived by means of congenital 
concrescence from two separate stipular organs, the earlier ancestors of the 
Rubiaceae as a whole being assumed to have possessed four stipules at 
each node. Hence, it follows that the species of Galium (and also of any 
other genera of the Stellatae) having four-membered whorls would on the 
whole represent the most primitive type in that particular tribe. Whorls 
with six foliar organs would thus be regarded as a more advanced type 
among the Stellatae, but at the same time as representing a reversion to the 
condition found in the ancestors of the Rubiaceae. It is suggestive that 
among living Rubiaceae cases of concrescence of stipules occur very fre- 
quently, and in certain genera, such as Palicourea , Cephaelis , &c., some 
species have four separate stipules, while others have two either partially or 
completely fused (connate) ones, thus resulting in the production of four- 
membered whorls. 
Regarding the stage of evolution at which the stipules assumed the 
characters of true leaves in the Stellatae, it is difficult to come to a decision. 
However, it is beyond all doubt that the original type of the stipules in the 
Stellatae was scale-like, and that the leaf-like stipules have evolved from 
that type, probably in relation to certain physiological necessities. It may 
therefore be considered that in this respect A idymaea mexicana stands 
nearest the prototype of Stellatae, as Goebel maintains, 3 and that Galium 
paradoxum represents the most primitive species of its genus. As to the 
question whether Galium ge mini folium and Asperula geminif olia , both of 
which usually bear two scale-like interfoliar stipules at each node, 4 furnish 
us with further examples of primitive species is rather doubtful. The pro- 
duction of scale-like stipules in these two species may probably have been 
brought about by the circumstances of their xerophytic habitat, thus indi- 
cating reduction rather than a retention of the primitive state. 
Summary. 
1. In Galium and other allied genera, each stipule as a rule develops 
from a single primordium. 
2. Fairly frequently, and particularly in four-membered and rarely in 
1 The Seedling of Torreya Myrisiica. New Phytologist, vol. ii (1903), p. 85. 
2 Seedling Structure of Gymnosperms, II. Ann. Bot., vol. xxiii (1909), p. 221, PI. XV, 
Fig. 4 b. 
8 Organography of Plants (Engl, ed.), pt. 2 (1905% p. 371. 
4 Cf. the present paper, p. 203, foot-note. 
