When the cotyledons of 6-day-old seedlings of Chenopodium rubrum were removed at various intervals after exposure to a single 13.5-h dark period, defoliation during the first 6 h after darkness prevented flowering. If the cotyledons remained on the plant for a further 5 or more hours flowering gradually increased. Within 20 h after the end of the dark period, the cotyledons had completed their essential role and subsequent defoliation had no influence on flowering. A cotyledon area of about 30 mm2 was required for maximal floral induction.It can be concluded that a transmissible factor—often termed floral stimulus—was produced in the cotyledons following a short-day exposure. It is also apparent that flowering in Chenopodium rubrum depends on the generation of a floral stimulus in short days, rather than on control by a transmissible inhibitor of flowering produced under long days.After arrival of the floral stimulus at the apex there was a doubling from 2% to 4% in the percentage of cells undergoing mitosis. This increased value of the mitotic index was maintained during floral development and probably reflected an increased rate of cell division. There were rapid and sometimes rhythmic fluctuations in the percentage of dividing cells.