Adventitious Budding and Branching in Cycas. 241 
they were almost universal in the older specimens of Cycas in Japan, 
and that nearly every “ branch ” showed signs of having arisen in 
the beginning from one of them. According to the position of the 
prospering bud, the kind of branching varies, and when the bud 
develops near the apex, once it has reached a diameter comparable 
to that of the main stem, it gives the plant much the appearance of 
a dichotomous trunk. When the “ bud ” increases to such an 
Fig. 14. A Cycas showing the beginning of the so-called branching. At a 
are the small “ buds ” between the leaf-bases. At b one enlarged, at b (i.) one 
bearing a few foliage leaves. A large “ bud” with a full crown of leaves is 
seen at c, while it is evident that the “ branch ” B is simply a further growth 
of a “ bud ” similar to c. 
extent of course, strong woody connections are formed with the 
main axis, and the leaf bases on which it originated are crushed 
back, so that the mature appearance of the plant is identical with 
what it would have been had the axis itself branched, and may well 
deceive anyone into believing this to be the case. 
These observations were made while travelling in Japan with 
a Grant from the Royal Society, which, though allotted for other 
work, was the means of bringing about the present minor 
investigation. 
The University , Manchester. 
