34 



Remarks on the Decay of 

 8 



a more decided pattern, by the completing of the above-stated 

 rhomboidal depressions, which had been assisted by a longi- 

 tudinal cut of a knife, and the careful removal of the woody 

 centre. 



10 11 ■ 12 13 



Fig, 11. Other parts of the plant produced this pattern. 

 It appeared that the spinous processes in the interior had 

 resisted the vertical contraction of the cortex. Here the 

 spaces retained an oblong form, having the elevated ridges 

 prominent, though not united throughout their diagonal 

 direction, but breaking into distinct approximate compart- 

 ments, much in the same manner as those in the Phytolithus 

 cancellatus. (Jig, 21.) 



Fig, 1 2. The most general appearance of the plants, where 

 contraction was carried on more equally from both ends of 

 the branch. The elevated ridges surrounding the compart- 

 ments had now become dry and hard, and might be said to 

 have arrived at the state of hay. 



Fig, 13. is a vertical section of a branch, to show the lig- 

 neous centre, or woody stem, in a fresh state. 



Fig, 14. The same after decay had commenced. The 

 woody centre, in contracting, had produced lengthened lozenge- 

 shaped elevations, retaining the spinous processes rather pro- 

 minent. 



