depicted in
the fasciated condition.

[Illustration: FIG. 7.--Fasciation in the scape of the Dandelion
(_Leontodon Taraxacum_).]

The striae, which these stems almost invariably present, exhibit the
lines of junction, and the spiral or other curvatures and contraction,
which are so often met with, may be accounted for by the unequal growth
of one portion of the stem as contrasted with that of another. Against
this view Moquin cites the instances of one-stemmed plants, such as
_Androsace maxima_, but, on the other hand, those herbaceous plants
having usually but a single stem not unfrequently produce several which
may remain distinct, but not uncommonly become united together. Prof.
Hincks[14] cites cases of this kind in _Primula vulgaris_, _Hieracium
aureum_, and _Ranunculus bulbosus_. I have myself met with several cases
of the kind in _Primula veris_, in the Polyanthus, in the Daisy, and in
the _Leontodon Taraxacum_, in which latter a fusion of two or more
flower-stems bearing at the top a composite flower, and made up of two,
three, four, or more flowers combined together, and containing all the
organs that would be present in the same flowers if separate, is very
common.

Moquin's second objection is founded upon the fact that, in certain
fasciated stems, the branches are not increased in number or altered in
arrangement from what is usual; but however true this may be in
particular cases, it is quite certain that in the majority of instances
a large increase in the number of leaves and buds is a prominent
characteristic of fasciated stems.

Another argument used by the distinguished French botanist to show that
fasciated stems are not due to cohesion of two or more stems, is founded
on the fact that a transverse section of a fasciated stem generally
shows an elliptical outline with but a single central canal. On the
other hand, if two branches become united and a transverse section be
made, the form of the cut surface would be more or less like that of the
figure 8[Symbol: 8 turned 90 deg.], although in old stems this may give
place to an elliptical outline, but even then traces of two medullary
canals may be found. This argument is very deceptive, for the appearance
of the transverse section must depend, not only on the intimacy of their
union, but also on the internal structure of the stems themselves. When
two flowers cohere without much pressure they exhibit uniting circles
somewhat resembling the figure o