The Vegetative Anatomy of Molinia cserulea. 63 
Ward, for instance, in his handbook on grasses (4) has no reference to 
the subject. In Molinia, however, absciss layers are well developed, 
being found at the base of every leaf in both series. By this 
means the basal internode, which stands between the two series, is 
protected both below and above from bacteria and other dangers 
associated with decay. Similar protection for the bulbs of Scilla 
non-scripta has been described by Woodhead (6), where further 
references to absciss layers in monocotyledonous plants will be 
found. These layers explain the fact that the dead leaves of Molinia, 
when plucked, come away in handfuls without any effort, a feature 
which is all the more striking when we remember the general 
toughness of the plant, including the leaves; and it is true of 
functional leaves late in the season as well as dead ones. The 
resulting leaf scars give a characteristic form to the tops of old 
and decaying basal internodes (Fig. 1, b.o., b.d., and Fig. 4). 
It should be added that the absciss layers of the upper series do 
not extend across the inflorescence stalk, presumably because, if 
they did, it would weaken a member which has to remain standing 
throughout the winter, to give the fruits every opportunity of being 
scattered. 
A point closely related to the foregoing is that when the leaves 
wither and fall the upper parts of the basal internodes retain their 
greenness and continue to function until the buds put out their 
leaves in the next season. It thus appears that photosynthesis 
goes on throughout the winter, and that Molinia despite its seasonal 
foliage is to this extent an evergreen. These active assimilating 
organs are usually well protected from winds, etc. by the long dead 
leaves, while plenty of light gets in to carry on the small amount of 
assimilation possible in the one to two cm. of stem possessed of 
chlorophyll. Small as it may be, this feature is important and 
suggests a comparison of Molinia with Vaccinium Myrtillus, 
another heath plant which, while shedding its leaves, carries on the 
work of photosynthesis by means of its green, winged stems. 
We pass now beyond the “joint” to consider the structure of 
the inflorescence stalk, whose length, thinness, and strength we 
have already mentioned. A short distance above the node, during 
the summer, the transverse section is very simple (see Fig. 5, middle 
of C): its outline is wavy or crisped ; a slight epidermis surrounds 
a band of tissue, composed of small cells but not otherwise adapted 
for strengthening purposes; within this ring the parenchymatous 
