Art. XVI.—An Inquiry into the Seedling Forms of New Zealand Phanerogams and their Development.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 32, 1899, Page 83

Art. XVI.—An Inquiry into the Seedling Forms of New Zealand Phanerogams and their Development. By L. Cockayne. [Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 1st November, 1899.] Plates VIII., IX. Part III.* In my former paper, on page 382, line 9, the word seed occurs as a slip of the pen, capsule being, of course, the word intended. I usually sow Veronica-seed capsule and all, especially if the seed be gathered before it is quite ripe. With regard to the seedlings treated of in my former papers,† Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxxi., 1898, pp. 354–98. it is not worth while making any additions at present to what has been already published. This arises chiefly from the fact that most of the young plants are still growing in the pots where the seed was sown, and, now that spring has returned, the vigorous growth which it has induced, coupled with the moist, sheltered, warm environment of the greenhouse, has brought about in nearly every instance either a reversion to the already described juvenile form, or else that the latter still persists. Thus young Carmichaelia seedlings, which had commenced to develope leafless cladodes, are now putting out leafy shoots; even adult plants of C. crassicaule, both in greenhouse and shade-house, are rapidly producing stems well furnished with leaves, while on the other hand specimens in the open air present the usual half-dead looking appearance of the wild plant. Although a greenhouse in spring-time is not good for observing later seedling developments, it does not follow that it is unsuitable for investigating the earlier forms of growth; on the contrary, the conditions of growth there are not so very different from those afforded by nature, since in the natural habitat germination can only possibly take place during a period of wet, when the surface of the ground would remain moist for some time. Ganong writes regarding the Cactaceæ‡ “Contributions to a Knowledge of the Morphology and Ecology of the Caotaceæ” (Annals of Botany, 1898, vol. xii., p. 428).: “The germination of the seeds at home in the desert must take place in the rainy reason, for then only is the necessary water available. Now, the conditions of the desert in the cloudy time of the year are not so very different from those of our greenhouses.” To guard against error in the shape of getting seedlings wrongly labelled, I have this season adopted the

plan of putting a number on the pot itself, as well as a numbered label bearing the name of the plant. Writing of Coprosma acerosa (loc. cit., p. 386), I pointed out how the stipules with their glandular tips were most likely organs of protection for the young buds. At the time of writing this I was quite unaware that Cheeseman had already pointed out the same fact,* “On the New Zealand Species of Coprosma” (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xix., 1887, p. 222). stating that, “At the apex of the very young stipule a gland is situated, which secretes a copious supply of a viscid mucilaginous fluid. These glands are highly developed and in an active state when the adjacent leaves are in the early stages of growth, but shrivel up and cease to secrete long before the leaves attain their full size.” Some of the most interesting of the seedlings described in this paper were raised by Mr. S. D. Barker, to whom I am much indebted for permission to use his rare and valuable material. To Mr. A. L. Taylor, of the Christchurch Botanic Garden, I must also express my obligation for having assisted me with seeds and seedlings. Finally, I beg to thank Mr. F. A. D. Cox, of Whangamarino, Chatham Islands, a most enthusiastic naturalist, whose assistance in procuring me Chatham Islands material and in giving information as to habitats of plants is simply invaluable. Carmichaelia angustata, T. Kirk. Only one seedling examined, and that about one year old, raised by Mr. S. D. Barker from seed sent by Mr. T. Kirk, F.L.S., and collected in the original habitat of the species. Germinated in about fourteen days (Barker). The plant was approaching its final form, but from the base of the main stem were young reversion shoots of the early seedling form. Description of Seedling. Early leaves (Plate VIII., fig. 1) simple, rotund, emarginate, bright-green, 7 mm. long × 8 mm. broad (exclusive of petiole); margins entire, reddish; midrib slender; veins 5, alternating; petioles 6 mm. long, semiterete, channelled above, articulated to midrib and to stem. Later leaves ternate, with rotund-emarginate or obcordate leaflets, 4 mm. × 4 mm. Lateral branch from older portion of plant (Plate VIII., fig. 2) spreading at right angles to main stem, wiry, deeply furrowed; edges of furrows translucent. Older leaves ternate, distichous, inserted at regular intervals along branch, and becoming smaller towards its apex. Leaflets 8.5 mm. long × 7.5 mm. broad (exclusive of petiole), obcordate, entire, glabrous, often more or less

cuneate at the base; midrib raised on under-surface of leaf, projecting beyond base of leaflet, slightly bent downwards, and articulating with petiole, thus raising the horizontal leaflets slightly above the petiole; terminal leaflet usually longest. Other leaflets rather smaller than the earlier ones. Stipules subulate, membranous, rarely rounded at apex. This species is described in the Students' Flora, recently published (p. 114).* “The Students' Flora of New Zealand,” by Thomas Kirk, F.L.S., Wellington, 1899. It is one of the leafy species, and seems to be very similar, judging from the description (p. 114), to C. grandiflora, the seedling form of which has not yet been described. Like nearly all the seedling Carmichaelias that I am acquainted with, it has entire, almost rotund, leaves at first. The mature leaves, according to Kirk, are deciduous. Notospartium torulosum, T. Kirk. Seedlings raised by Mr. S. D. Barker from seed collected in his garden from plant brought originally from Mount Peel. Germinated in about fourteen days (Barker). Description of Seedling. Early development: The hypocotyl reaches a length of 8 mm. before the pale-coloured cotyledons are released from the seed-coat, which still encloses their upper and apical halves. At this stage the cotyledons lie with their upper surfaces pressed close together. As development proceeds the hypocotyl, at first pale-coloured, tender, and semiprostrate, becomes green, woody, and erect, while the cotyledons gradually open out, increase in size, becoming finally 9 mm. long × 4 mm. broad; are fleshy, obovate-oblong, slightly falcate, glabrous, petiolate with very short petioles, which are connate at the base. While the cotyledons are slowly developing, the growing point of the stem emerges from between them, and rapidly developes the 1st internode, while at the same time the 1st leaf is being developed, which quickly becomes furnished with a petiole longer than the internode, the lamina at the same time growing very quickly, becoming 1 cm. in length, rotund in shape, with emarginate apex and surface semipatent. By this time the 2nd internode is lengthening, with a leaf being developed at its apex, having a short thick petiole, and the sides of the lamina pressed closely together and vertical. The 3rd internode is now very short, and is enclosed and protected by two triangular stipules, furnished at their apices with one or more hairs. At this early stage the leaf has a red margin, not to be seen so far in the more mature leaves. As the 2nd leaf developes, the

3rd internode grows considerably, until by the time that the leaf is developed it almost equals the 2nd internode, now 4 mm. long. Seedling with cotyledons and three leaves (Plate VIII., fig. 3). Stem flexuous, each internode being slightly bent from the preceding in an opposite direction, but ascending upwards, channelled, marked with a few scaly hairs, swollen at nodes. Leaves (so far as developed) very uniform, almost rotund, patent, entire except for emarginate apex, glabrous, rather dull-green; under-surface more glaucous than upper, with raised midrib. 2nd leaf 11 mm. long × 6 mm. broad; petiole 4 mm. long, terete, articulated to lamina and to stem. Stipules triangular, opposite, usually reddish with pale membranous margins. The largest of the plants examined had a stout branch coming from the axil of each cotyledon, also a still shorter branch from the axil of the 1st leaf. The leaves on these and their development were similar to what has been described above. Kirk (l.c., p. 117) describes the leaves on seedling plant thus: “1-foliolate, obovate, emarginate, jointed to the petiole.” The term “obovate” will certainly not apply to fully developed leaves, though it would suit well enough an immature leaf (see 3rd leaf in fig. 3). The South Nelson plant grows on grassy flats by the Mason River, in full sunshine, and also on-the slopes of the Whale's Back in similar situations to ordinary tall-growing leafless Carmichaelias, in the full sunshine. The mature plant is quite leafless, and the branches are stiff, slender, and terete. Mr. S. D. Barker has plants from all the localities mentioned in the Students' Flora growing in his garden. The Mount Peel and Mason River plants look very similar, but the Waikare plant might very well be a different species. Its stem is flat, not terete. Under the stimulus of spring its young growth consists of reversion shoots, with flat stems and ternate small leaves reduced sometimes to a single narrower leaflet (see fig. 31, Plate VIII.)* Since writing the above description I have had an opportunity of further examining Mr. Barker's seedlings. The largest is 8.7 cm. tall, with ten branches, but still with entire leaves and quite terete, showing no sign of any such development as exhibited by the Waikare plant. Convolvulus erubescens, Sims. Seedlings grown by Mr. S. D. Barker from seed collected from cultivated plant in his garden, originally from the Port Hills. Germination very rapid (Barker).

Description of Seedling. The thick fleshy hypocotyl is developed rapidly, at first supine, then ascending with its upper portion. At the same time the radicle makes quick growth, in many instances lying on the surface of the ground for some time before the tip bends down into the soil. The cotyledons remain in the seed-coat absorbing the nutriment while hypocotyl and root thus develope (see Plate VIII., fig. 5). Here they are closely pressed together, with each lamina conduplicate. As the laminæ unfold the petioles lengthen, become erect, and the laminæ almost touch, and are vertical; finally increasing greatly in size, they separate and become horizontal. In the meantime a slender stem has emerged from between the connate petioles, at first straight and erect, then as development proceeds twining slightly from right to left in its upper part, and becoming furnished with leaves at first opposite, but those later developed alternate. Cotyledons 10.5 mm. long × 10.5 mm. broad (exclusive of petiole), oblong or rotund, emarginate or obcordate, soft rather dull-green on upper but paler on under surface; margin entire, except at apex, tapering just at base into petiole, the margins here being slightly inclined upwards, and thus forming continuation of the channel of petiole; veins few, slightly sunken (Plate VIII., fig. 4). Leaves alternate, obovate- or ovate-oblong, emarginate, truncate at base, with very long petiole; in other respects similar to the cotyledons. Further development not yet seen. No. 812. Carmichaelia, sp. Plate VIII., figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. The pod is 5 mm. long × 4 mm. broad, oblong, slightly swollen, 2.75 mm. thick; beak straight, stout, subulate, acute 2 mm. long; seeds very light greenish-brown mottled with black spots, 2 usually, sometimes 3, in each pod. Seed collected from one plant with pinnate leaves not unlike C. grandiflora, growing in complete shade on moist rocks in the gorge of the River Waiau, near the bridge to Hanmer. Sown 7th June, 1899, germinated 23rd June, 1899—sixteen days. Description of Seedling. Fig. 6 shows the earliest stage of development observed the hypocotyl and radicle being considerably developed before the cotyledons have emerged from the seed-coat. Fig. 7 shows a more advanced state of development, with ring of long hairs at crown of hypocotyl for fixing plant to soil, also a few minute hairs on the root. At this point the cotyledons show a faint sign of chlorophyll, and are issuing from the soil, but the hypocotyl is still underground and quite pale in colour.

Root straight, deeply descending, 9 cm. long on plant 2 cm. high. Hypocotyl fleshy, thicker than stem. Cotyledons obovate, sometimes falcate, thick, entire, glabrous, with short thick stout petioles connate at base. 1st leaf variable in size, from 6 mm. long X 6.5 mm. broad (excluding petiole) to 9 mm. long × 9 mm. broad, rotund or ovate-rotund, emarginate, sometimes with apiculus in sinus, rounded cuneate or truncate at base, with a few white bristly hairs especially on midrib and under-surface; midrib evident on under-surface of leaf, obscure on upper surface; petiole three-quarters the length of lamina, channelled above, articulated to midrib and stem. 2nd leaf similar to 1st; in many of the plants now about four months old not yet fully developed. 3rd and 4th leaves not yet nearly fully developed on most plants. Colour of leaves: Some green throughout, except for purplish-brown margin; others dark purple-brown on upper surface; others dark-brown blotched with lighter brown. Stems wiry, rather stout, terete, flexuous, upright or bending towards ground at first, channelled, swollen at nodes, sparsely hairy below, with few white bristles, which are much more abundant on growing-point and youngest leaves. Stipules small, triangular, in axil of leaf. The seedlings vary considerably in size and colour of leaves, some of which are very curiously variegated with large blotches of paler colour. Most of the leaves are of similar shape, but some are much more narrow, with a deep sinus at the apex (fig. 10). The rapid development of the root while the seed is yet within its seed-coat is of great importance to secure a sure water-supply in stony ground, and to fix the plant firmly by the time the wind can have an effect. In the plants examined the leaves are all bent sideways a little from the horizontal. This, perhaps, would not be so in a state of nature, and may be owing to their artificially grown position, and be simply heliotropic curvature. Pseudopanax chathamica, T. Kirk. Plate IX., figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 23, 24. Seedlings collected and sent alive by Mr. Cox from Chatham Islands. Description of Seedling. Hypocotyl pale in colour, shining, glabrous, terete, woody stout. Cotyledons 1.15 cm. long × 6 mm., oblong, entire, persistent for a long time, rather thick and coriaceous; midrib usually obscure; petioles semierect, thick and rather coriaceous, channelled above, swollen and connate at base.

Leaves (1 and 2) alternate, ovate-lanceolate to obovate, usually tapering at base into petiole, entire for lower half, serrate for upper half; serrations regular or varying in depth and size; apex sometimes rounded, sometimes semitruncate, or, again, the upper half of the leaf is not fully developed, and looks as if bitten or torn across the middle, as in figs. 23 and 24, Plate IX.; midrib raised on both surfaces. 3rd leaf: Fig. 13 shows this in state of development; the toothing is very even and conspicuous, and shape linear-lanceolate, becoming quite lanceolate or obovate-lanceolate in the fully developed leaf. Later leaves larger than the earlier ones, but still of same type, though narrower in proportion to their length; in young plant 8 cm. high not deflexed downwards, but the leaf-blades are horizontal and point slightly upwards, 10cm. long × 4.5cm. broad; in other plants narrower than this, and sometimes with upper half abortive; midrib very strong; veins distinct; petioles short, stout, erect, channelled above, swollen and articulated to stem at base. Stem erect, terete, pale-coloured, rather shining, soon becoming naked through shedding of leaves, and so marked with leaf-scars. The stage between the earlier seedling forms and the mature form I have not seen, but of this latter Mr. Cox has sent me a most complete set of fruiting specimens, showing also every form, I should take it, of mature leaf. These adult leaves do not vary to any very great extent from the later seedling ones as figured in figs. 11 and 15, and described above from older specimens; the main distinction is in length and width, they being much narrower in proportion to their length. Sometimes the leaf is almost entire, narrow lanceolate, with an acute apex; at other times the apex is truncate, and then toothed and cut in many ways; while, again, the upper third of the leaf may be undeveloped or abortive. To approach the difficult question as to why the early form of the Chatham Islands plant should differ so much from the closely allied varieties in New Zealand, and not go through the stage with tall upright stem and exceedingly long, narrow, deflexed leaves, would require a most intimate knowledge of the environment of this plant in the Chatham Islands, which could only be learnt by careful investigations on the spot. The deflexed-leaf form of New Zealand is possibly an adaptation for pushing up to the light through more or less dense surrounding vegetation, spreading leaves under such circumstances of growth being a disadvantage. In the Chatham Islands the opposition from neighbouring plants may be less, and so the deflexed leaves would be no advantage to the plant; but all this is the merest surmise. It is worthy of

remark that the large-leaved seedling plant described above resembles very much in leaf-form the figure on pl. 38d, in Kirk's “Forest Flora,” of Pseudopanax crassifolia, var. unifoliata, while in many instances the mature leaves of our plant are not unlike those of P. crassifolia, var. trifoliata (pl. 38c). The truncate form of leaf so common in the mature form of P. chathamica seems strongly hereditary, as evidenced by so many leaves being only partly developed, even amongst the early seedling leaves. No. 851. Carmichaelia enysii, T. Kirk. Plate IX., figs. 16, 17, 18. Seed collected by Mr. W. G. Rutherfurd in the neighbourhood of Kurow, Otago. Sown 1st September, 1899; germinated 6th September, 1899—five days. Description of Seedling. Early development: The cotyledons remain enclosed in the seed-coat while the hypocotyl and radicle develope to the extent shown in fig. 16, where the cotyledons have just emerged from their covering. The hypocotyl is white, and already exceedingly thick and succulent. The thick cotyledons as they open out become green and rapidly increase in size, while from between them a shoot emerges, which is at first quite terete, and having its growing-point protected by succulent ciliated stipules; as development proceeds it becomes much flattened above, and is furnished at the nodes with small stipules, from the axils of which rudimentary buds emerge. By the end of fifty-four days the state described above had been reached. Hypocotyl 10 mm. long, mostly above ground, very palegreen, thick, fleshy, glabrous. Cotyledons obovate- or oblong-spathulate, sometimes falcate, extremely succulent, thick and juicy, glabrous, shortly petiolate with petioles channelled on upper surface and connate at base. Cladode 4.5 cm. long (in oldest specimen), 2.75 mm. broad in widest part, terete near base, green, much grooved, sparsely hairy with adpressed rather bristly white hairs, erect, slightly flexuous. Stipules small, adpressed to and enclosing adjacent margin of cladode, broadly triangular, succulent especially when young, ciliated at margin and hairy on under-surface; hairs as on cladode. Carmichaelia enysii is a very dwarf shrub found in the very driest portions of the lower mountain region of the South Island, and, according to Kirk, on the south-east side of Ruapehu, North Island. It grows on stony flats, old riverbeds, river-terraces, and the like, forming large dense patches

rising to a height of from 3 cm. to 6 cm., or being even less in stature, and made up of stout creeping or partially ascending woody branches, bearing erect or semierect narrow cladodes 1.4 cm. in length or a little longer, and 1 mm. broad or even much less—according to Kirk (loc. cit., p. 108) 1/20in. to 1/12; in. broad—and usually quite leafless. “Leaves only found on very young plants, small, orbicular, emarginate, shortly petioled” (Kirk). Unlike the other species of Carmichaelia of which I have treated up to the present, C. enysii does not go through an early leafy stage with a true stem and large orbicular leaves, to be succeeded by cladodes more or less leafy; on the contrary, it developes at once this semi-leafy form, which is succeeded finally by a much dwarfer and quite leafless growth Carmichaelia nana, a closely related species, behaves in a similar manner. A seedling of this latter from seed sown on the 10th December, 1897 (No. 351), is now (October, 1899) furnished with one long sparsely leafy cladode 9 cm. in length, the leaves small and oblong-emarginate. Very young seedlings of C. monroi, another related species, are behaving in a similar manner, and developing erect cladodes with small obcordate leaflets. A plant of this latter species from Mount Isabel, Hanmer Plains, had when collected both the ordinary broad short leafless cladode and the tall narrow seedling form of growth. This seedling form, as exhibited in these three species, reminds one of the second stage of development of the tall leafless Carmichaelias; so much so indeed that it is hard to believe, when for the first time examining a pot of seedlings of C. nana, e.g., that a mistake has not been made at the time of sowing, and that they are not seedlings of C. flagelliformis or of one of its allies. This resemblance between the first state of development of the dwarf Carmichaelias on the one hand and of the later and second stage of development of the tall Carmichaelias on the other hand, coupled with the fact that the former do not go through a first form with true stems and large leaves, seems to point out that the “nana section” are descended from tall leafless ancestors, just as these latter may have descended from the leafy Carmichaelias. Thus we may have already a clue to the phylogenetic development of the species of Carmichaelia, the leafy forms, such as C. grandiflora, which require a moist atmosphere, being probably the earliest, and the extremely xerophilous C. monroi, C. nana, and C. enysii forming the most recent link in the chain, with C. flagelliformis and its allies occupying a position midway. This seems the more likely since in C. uniflora there seems to be a connecting-link between C. nana, &c., and C. flagelliformis, &c., its final form looking like an arrested early seedling form of the “nana section” (fig. 18), while C. flagelliformis, &c.,

if grown in a moist atmosphere, will develope compound leaves, and in appearance approach C. grandiflora. The rapid germination of the seeds of all the species of Carmichaelia is of interest, since it is only by very rapid germination that multiplication of the species by means of seeds would be possible, growing, as most do, in dry localities, where the ground could never remain wet, near and on the surface, for a sufficiently long period to permit a slow germination. In connection with this the length of time that many Carmichaelias retain their seeds in the pods on the plants, from the summer of one year to the spring of the next, gives a chance for some of the seeds to fall to the ground just at the reason of the year—late winter and early spring—most suitable for their germination. No. 700. Discaria toumatou, Raoul. Plate IX., figs. 19, 20, 21, 22. Seed collected from one plant growing on sand-dunes in neighbourhood of New Brighton, Canterbury. Sown 18th January, 1899; germinated from 1st August until 2nd September, 1899. Description of Seedling. Early development: The cotyledons remain for a considerable time within the seed-coat absorbing nutriment, while the hypocotyl and root develope rapidly, together attaining a length of 42 mm. (fig. 19). At the same time the hypocotyl slowly grows upwards, rising arching out of the ground, the cotyledons still being subterranean, and with their upper surfaces closely pressed together. As the hypocotyl becomes stronger its elasticity overcomes the resistance of the soil, and the cotyledons are pulled out of the ground, enclosed or not as the case may be, in the seed-coat; next the aerial portion of the hypocotyl becomes erect, the cotyledons open out, and the leaves just become visible to the naked eye. As these increase in size the first internode lengthens rapidly, reaching by the time the 2nd pair of leaves are appearing a length of 10 mm. or more. The young leaves are conduplicate in the bud, and each with its juicy glandular stipules protects the enclosed younger leaves and growing-point of the shoot. Seedling plant 4.3 cm. high, thirty days old, with cotyledons and two pairs of decussate leaves. Hypocotyl (above ground) 10 mm. long, terete, glabrous, woody, pink on lower and green on upper half. Cotyledons obovate-oblong, 8.25 mm. long × 5.5 mm. broad (at first 3.5 mm. × 2.25 mm.), succulent, pale-green, obscurely 5-nerved, entire, obtuse, petiolate with very short petioles, which are connate at base. 1st pair of leaves 9 mm. long × 4 mm. broad, with short

petioles, stained with red, connate and swollen at the base, and together with extreme base of lamina parallel to and sheathing the stem; lamina ovate-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, bright glossy green, glabrous on upper but with numerous minute white scales on under-surface, quite entire usually for lower two-thirds of margin, sparsely toothed and usually stained with deep red on upper third; teeth in an early state of development glandular; apex sharply acute, midrib prominent on under-surface, but together with the usually 6 lateral nerves indistinct on upper surface. 2nd pair of leaves similar in all respects to 1st pair, except not yet quite as large. Stem erect, terete, green, having numerous small white scales, swollen at nodes; 1st internode 1.8 cm. long; 2nd internode almost as long as 1st. In one plant, which had the upper portion of the stem removed two weeks ago, two opposite branches are developed from the axil of the cotyledons. 4 mm. in length, and each with 2 leaves 2.75 mm. long. Stipules 2, inserted at base of sheathing petiole, and united by their contiguous internal margins for half of their length or more; slightly longer than petiole; in very early state of development more than half size of leaf; free portion deltoid, ending in a mucronate gland, which shrivels as plant developes. The petiole of the leaf just above its base has a hollow which receives the young bud, which is protected on either side also by the stipules. Further development not yet seen. Discaria toumatou of the sand-dunes is a low-growing shrub, with spreading, flexible, slender branches, usually leafless for the greater part of the year, but furnished at intervals of about 2 cm. with decussate, reduced, spiny shoots, 3 cm. in length, quite green, and which function as leaves. From beneath the axil of these, but from the axil of a fallen leaf, in spring, numerous leafy shoots, either much reduced through imperfect development of the internodes or well-developed reversion shoots with long internodes, are developed; the former bear flowers, and are finally cast off, the latter do not bear flowers the first season, but become permanent branches. These reversion shoots are similar to the early juvenile form described above, except that they have reduced shoots terminating in a spinous point issuing from the axils of the leaves. In an early stage of development these spines are almost entirely enclosed by two stipules, but, their lower portion growing very much more rapidly than the apical portion, the stipules are carried forward, and finally surround the base of the actual pungent point, which, at first quite soft, becomes extremely hard and sharp through its tissues completely drying up. The adult leaves (fig. 21) are narrower, longer, and with

much longer petioles than the juvenile; otherwise they are of the same type. This behaviour of Discaria, to be in the early juvenile stage a leafy thornless plant, while the adult is leafless with assimilating spiny branches, reverting in spring to the leafy form, is almost identical with that of Colletia cruciata, another of the Rhamnaceæ, whose reversion shoots have been described and figured by Goebel.* “Pflanzenbiologische Schilderungen,” tell i., Marburg, 1889, pp. 17 and 18. This or a closely allied plant, received under the name of C. horrida, I have raised from seed. Its early form is quite spineless, with lanceolate leaves 7 mm. long × 3 mm. broad, acute, and with three prominent teeth on each margin. As the plant grew these leaves were succeeded by sharp, spiny shoots, terete, and 9 mm. in length. The quick development of the root of Discaria before its cotyledons issue into the air must be of great advantage to fix the plant firmly in an unstable medium such as sand, exposed as it is to constant winds. Explanation of Plates VIII., IX. Plate VIII. Fig. 1. Young growth from base of seedling plant, one year old, of Carmichaelia angustata. Fig. 2. Lateral branch from same plant as in fig. 1. Fig. 3. Seedling plant of Notospartium torulosum, Mount Peel variety. Fig. 31. Reversion shoot of Notospartium torulosum, Waikare variety. Fig. 4. Seedling plant of Convolvulus erubescens. Fig. 5. Early development of seedling of C. erubescens— (a) hypocotyl, (b) radicle. Fig. 6. Early development of Carmichaelia, sp., from Waiau Gorge. Fig. 7. Later stage in the development of the plant shown in fig. 6. Fig. 8. Still later stage of development of plant shown in figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 9. Usual form of early leaf of Carmichaelia, sp., Waiau Gorge. Fig. 10. Occasional leaf-form of seedling of Carmichaelia, sp., Waiau Gorge. Plate IX. Fig. 11. 2nd or 3rd seedling leaf of Pseudopanax chathamica. Fig. 12. Seedling plant of P. chathamica, showing cotyledons and 1st leaf. Fig. 13. Early stage in development of 3rd leaf of P. chathamica. Fig. 14. Apical extremity of leaf shown in fig. 13. Fig. 15. Leaf from older seedling of P. chathamica. Fig. 16. Early stage in development of seedling of Carmichaelia enysii. Fig. 17. Later stage of development of C. enysii than shown in fig. 16. Fig. 18. Branch of Carmichaelia uniflora. Fig. 19. Early development of seedling form of Discaria toumatou. Fig. 20. Later stage in development of D. toumatou than shown in fig. 19. Fig. 21. Adult leaf of D. toumatou. Fig. 22. Early seedling leaf of D. toumatou. Figs. 23, 24. Truncate seedling leaves of Pseudopanax chathamica.