Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Das Pflanzenreich, Vol. 4: Regni Vegetabilis Conspectus, Im Auftrage Der Konigl, Preuss, Akademie Der Wissenschaften Heraugegeben Von An; Engler
Vegetative Organs (vegetationsorgane). The ripe capsules of Sarmcem'a and Dar lingtonia shed their seeds from July to September in their native haunts. Germination takes place in from three to five weeks, and a small seedling may be formed before Winter in the warmer Southern States, or germination may be delayed till the succeeding Spring in colder States. The radicle emerges through the micropyle and grows to a length of 2 - 3 cm, by which time the hypocotyl has emerged and elongated about 1 cm. Simultaneously the cotyledons grow, elongate greatly, and become green. Both are linear, their tips push upward the seed coat, and remain within it for a time, in order to absorb the albumen. One then usually frees itself, while the other continues to complete final food absorption. This is effected by soft elongated terminal epidermal cells of the cotyledons, which form slight papillar processes. When they have spread apart a succession of four to seven ascidiform leaves next develops, which are nearly vertical in all the species. In shape and relation of parts these closely resemble mature leaves of S. Minor, which may well be regarded as the primitive type of the genus, a conclusion strengthened by many other characters. If the seedling has developed in the Autumn to the above degree a rest then occurs during Winter. In early Spring a second root arises at the junction of the radicle and hypocotyl, and this is succeeded, during the remainder of theseason, by six to eight roots that start from the top of the hypocotyl, or from the short swollen stem. These roots attain an average length of 7 cm, and are beset with short irregularly bent side rootlets. Meanwhile additional leaves unfold, to the number of from 6 - 2 5, according to the species. These gradually assume the adult characters alike as to shape, position and color, so that by the close of the first complete season of growth the species can readily be determined. By this time also the epicotyl, from which the above leaves have developed, has either enlarged slightly (s. Psittacma type), or has formed a tuberous swelling about the size of a pea (s. ?ava type), that is the rudiment of the future rhizome.
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