[109]

Jan 20th 1880

Megarrhiza californica

Another specimen had tubular petiole only 1.9 inch long, only slightly split at base— I enlarged & opened the split & found a plumule, perfectly straight & little above 7. mm long (or exactly .3 inch). Now this proves that it is the swelling of the plumule which burst the tube, & the escape of the plumule is due to the its the bowing of the tip, by which means the convex part protrudes through the split & thus escapes. Thus the bowing of tip here serves another purpose.

[110]

Jan 28' 1880

Megarrhiza

In a seed which had germinated in a monstrous manner, the hypocotyl & radicle had failed to develop & consisted of a mere blunt point, at one end of the 2 petioles of the cotyledon, which were not confluent— & each consisted of a semicylinder.— (One of them was .8 inch long & ended in a blunt point, representing the hypocotyl & radicle, terminating upwards in the plumule. with points representing the leaves.)

Begin with petioles not confluent & one fairly well developed .8 long &c &c— curious that it shd be developed sooner & better than radicle

[111]

1880

Megarrhiza

Jan. 30th— Plant trained up stick 2 ft high.— root white & apparently tender— upper part enlarged but only .25 inch in diameter— & .5 inch in length— the lower part, however, somewhat enlarged for total length of 1.3 inch.