Bacterial Symbiosis in Some New Zealand Plants

A large number of species of Coprasma (Rubiaceae) show bacteria-containingstipular ndules. Hairs which contain bacteria are also present.In other species, for example Myoporum laetum, bacteria arepresent in superficial and in immersed leaf-glands. It is suggestedthat the bacterial symbionts, which can readily be obtainedin culture, may function in the fixation of atmospheric nitrogenand thereby be of importance to the plants when growing in nitrogen-deficientsoils.