of Vegetable Membrane and Fibre, 



423 



I quite expected would be the case, from observing that those 

 spiral vessels which line the interior surface of the hollow 

 flower-stalk, emerge, not into the petals but into the pistils 

 and stamens of the flowers. 



In order to carry out this investigation still further, I se- 

 parated the flower-stalk of the hyacinth into four distinct parts, 

 among which the obvious variety both of structure and func- 

 tions is not more marked than the diversity of their chemical 

 composition. The parts to which I allude are, 



The epidermis with its stomata. 



The soft, bright green cellular tissue beneath the epidermis. 



The compact column of ducts and fibre forming the main 

 support of the stalk. 



And the spiral vessels which line the inner surface of this 

 hollow column. 



Mr. Rigg has furnished me with the following analysis of 

 these different portions of the plant. 



Analysis of the Flower-stalk of a Hyacinth grown in Water. 



On the existence of nitrogen in these products, which is not 

 the least remarkable feature in these experiments, an original 

 memoir will be laid before the Association. 



And as I have discharged my office, which is to record 

 facts only, and not at all to theorize upon them, I will conclude 

 this short notice of an inquiry, now less encumbered with dif- 

 ficulty, by observing that an opinion, which not long ago 

 was a common one*, that membrane only is the basis of the 

 tissue of plants, and that fibre is itself a form of membrane, is 

 shown by the above analysis to be decidedly erroneous. 



Peckham, Aug. 28, 1837- 



* Lindley's Introduction to Botany, p. 2. 



