The Bractless Inflorescence of the Cruciferce 151 
note 1, p. 150.) Wretschko 1 , Eichler 2 , Baillon 3 , Masters 4 and others 
also state that bract rudiments occur exceptionally in various Cruci- 
ferae and sometimes attain full development. There is thus a good 
deal of evidence to show that in a number of Cruciferous species, at 
least in some circumstances, a region of the inflorescence axis may 
show a normal construction quite in accord with the conception of 
the leaf-skin referred to above. It therefore becomes necessary to 
examine more closely into the actual conformation where the bract 
is seemingly absent. For this purpose the Garden Stock offers, as 
we shall see, particularly suitable material. Specific mention of this 
plant in this connection is made only by Eichler 5 , who cites Matthiola 
annua as a case where the bracts are wanting, and Masters 6 who, 
on the other hand, includes Matthiola incana among the species 
listed as occasionally having bract structures present. He, however, 
gives no further information. 
The normal sequence of shoot development in the Stock is as 
follows. The main axis, after giving rise to a close rosette of numerous 
spirally arranged leaves, produces well-developed internodes so that 
the leaves formed later stand far apart, and finally terminates in 
an apparently bractless raceme. The axillary bud of the lower leaves 
on the main axis remains undeveloped. In the succeeding region the 
buds give rise to a leafy branch which in turn terminates in a raceme. 
The first two leaves on these lateral stems are usually placed close 
together and opposite to one another at the extreme base, their 
position in relation to the subtending leaf on the main axis corre¬ 
sponding with that of a pair of bracteoles to the main bract. In the 
lower branches these two leaves are succeeded by several others 
placed singly at considerable intervals. As we ascend the plant, the 
number of leaves so borne diminishes, until perhaps the basal two 
alone are formed: or, even these two may be wanting, the lateral 
axis developing flowers straightway. If secondary lateral axes are 
produced, similar relations hold good. Although in the majority of 
individuals, as already stated, the pedicels appear not to be sub¬ 
tended by a foliar structure, one can often find individuals here and 
there in a large culture in which a normal leaf of larger or smaller 
size occurs immediately beneath and subtends the lowest or next 
flower in the raceme (Fig. 5), though the succeeding flowers are not 
thus accompanied. In others again a small subulate process may be 
1 Sitzungsberichte d. k. Akad. Wien, Bd. 58, i, p. 211, 1868. 
2 Flora, p. 535, 1865. 3 Hist. Plant. 3, p. 181, 1872. 
4 J. Linn. Soc. 14, p. 391, 1875. 
5 Loc. cit. 6 Loc. cit. p. 394. 
