101 



there not being sufficient room between the tube and the lining for 

 them to appear of that shape when in their natural position. They 

 were clear and spherical as soap-bubbles. To account for them we 

 may observe that the central passive fluid is soluble in water, the cir- 

 culating fluid which glides along in close contact with the lining is 

 not so, and from this appearance it is probable that the outer or third 

 fluid between the lining and tube is also not soluble, and so comes out 

 with the lining, and assumes the globular form here shown. 



Fig. 27* was traced from a stem so clear as to show the various cir- 

 culations, as indicated by the arrows ; the flexible oval vesicle is visible 

 in all the primary tubes. All these circulations, as well as those in 

 the arms, are up one side and down the other, and not like those in 

 the seed, up the outer and down the inner surface. 



I have not found any rule to say which shall be the ascending or 

 descending sides. In some places the contiguous currents go the same 

 way, in others they are contrary, as will be seen by the arrows. In 

 this specimen there is the same system in all the secondary tubes, 

 but in other specimens this differs. 



On the fruit-arms four sprouts, m, appear at the joints : the globu- 

 lar cluster of florets projects below them, as in fig. 18 and figs. 1 and 2, 

 and the fruit, a, rises up between them, as in figs. 1 and 2. 



When two globules and two seeds grow together they are preceded 

 by six sprouts, m. 



The globular blossoms, although small, are rich in variety, and con- 

 tain the most extraordinary features that have hitherto been observed 

 as connected with vegetation. In 1833 I first saw them, and a de- 

 scription of them was published in the ' Transactions of the Society 

 of Arts ' for that year, vol. 50. But I have since examined them 

 with higher powers, and having correctly traced what I saw, I am 

 enabled now to add many additional facts. 



In that description the seed-stalk was stated to consist of four cells, 

 one above the other : the globule projecting from the first and second, 

 as in fig. 2. I have now to add that no part of its stalk is uncovered, 

 a small portion being surrounded by the cells of the plant, and the 

 remainder inserted into the globule. 



Fig. 28 represents a full-grown blossom, n : it appears like a red 

 ball in a transparent cover ; but it is not so, the colour being in the 

 cover, and the space within is hollow, filled with transparent objects. 

 The cover is formed of eight segments, fig. 1, each having its own 

 stalk radiating from a centre, as in fig. 2. As the globule ripens, 

 the segments become flat, and separate from each other, in the man- 



