Tabor.—The Leaf Buds of Archytaea alternifolia. 1019 
referred to as water. Unfortunately no information is available as to the 
nature and reactions of the fluid. In the material, which was preserved in 
spirit, the space between the young leaves was partly occupied by a soft 
greyish substance, quite structureless, insoluble in water, alcohol, and ether, 
staining fairly readily with aniline dyes. There is every probability that this 
substance is coagulated mucilage, and that the fluid carried by the bud 
was a weak mucilaginous solution. 
At any rate ample means exist for the secretion of the mucilage, in 
the shape of numerous colleters, which are found in the axils of the leaves, 
borne on the leaf bases (PL LXXIX, Figs. 9 and 10). These glands are club- 
shaped multicellular bodies, borne on narrow stalks, and consisting for the 
most part of small isodiametric cells with thick walls and abundant contents. 
There is no indication of columnar epidermal cells such as were described by 
Hanstein ( 3 ) in Cojfea and Viola , and by Groom (1) in Coprosma , Hojfmannia , 
and Gardenia. 
In the club-shaped part of the glands large irregular cavities occur 
close to the surface, which are occupied by a deeply staining contracted 
mass—possibly mucilage (PI. LXXIX, Fig. 11). In some instances these 
cavities may be individual cells of large size, but inTnost cases they seem to 
have arisen by the fusion of a number of cells, possibly by the mucilaginous 
degeneration of their walls. The glands are always closely surrounded by 
the greyish coagulated substance above described, and it seems highly 
probable that they are largely concerned with its production. 
The facts described above all point to the conclusion that the various 
structures are admirably adapted to serve for the protection of the young 
leaves from drought and excessive insolation. The structure of the teeth 
and their relation to the vascular system indicate very clearly their 
probable function as hydathodes, and water is certainly present in the 
living buds. The general construction of the bud and its upright position 
enable the water to be readily retained. The narrow spaces between the 
leaves and the mucilage secreted by the colleters obviate the danger of 
desiccation to which the young leaves and axillary buds would be exposed, 
if the bud became emptied of water, or for any reason the hydathodes. 
failed to maintain a supply. The thick cuticle and numerous mucilaginous 
cells protect the leaves from excessive loss of water, after their emergence 
from their watery bath. 
It is obvious that these conclusions can only be fully sustained by 
actual demonstration with living material, which is unfortunately not 
available to me. 
