Paths to maturity

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Abstract
This paper outlines our knowledge of the morphology and development of seedlings and juvenile forms in the indigenous seed plants of New-Zealand. A search of the literature discloses seedling descriptions in varying detail of representatives of 77 (21%) of the genera. The few observations on radicle emergence show that it is either through the micropyle or testa of seeds, or through doors, panels, plugs, or flaps in the endo-carp of fruits. Epigeal cotyledons are present in most species and are immediately followed by foliage leaves, whereas hypogeal cotyledons are followed by cataphylls. The differences between juvenile and adult leaves can involve the tomentum, serrations, lobes and indentations, deflexion, pcltation, simplification, reduction, or enlargement. Differences in branching are also noted. The paper concludes with an elaboration of an earlier proposed hypothesis that the divaricating juvenile form is descended from a hybrid between a divaricating shrub and a tree without a juvenile form.