Rev. P. Keith on the Structure of Living Fabrics. 123 



figure. But it is not always the largest plant that has the 

 largest leaf. The leaf of Caltha palustris, though a humble 

 herb, is larger than the leaf of the oak, though a lofty tree. 

 The largest leaf produced by any species of British plant, is, 

 as I believe, that of Arctium Lappa, or of Tussilago Petasites, 

 which is often to be met with of the dimensions of upwards of 

 twenty inches jn length by eighteen at the greatest breadth. 

 The leaves of Strelitzia Regina grow to a length of three or 

 four feet, with a breadth of eighteen or twenty inches at the 

 widest. The leaves of the Plantain-tree (Musa paradisiaca) 

 have been known to grow to the extent often feet in length 

 by two feet at the basis* ; so that, owing, perhaps, to their 

 extraordinary dimensions, some writers have supposed them 

 to be the leaves of which Adam and Eve are said to have made 

 themselves aprons, when they first felt the want of clothingf. 

 But the largest of all simple leaves is, doubtless, that of the 

 Talipat-tree (Corypha umbraculifera\ a native of Ceylon, said 

 to be often met with of such a magnitude as to measure not 

 less than eleven feet from the base to the apex, by sixteen 

 feet across at the widest part, giving, thus, an ample circum- 

 ference of nearly forty feet, and forming, when fully expanded, 

 a most capacious and efficient parasol. 



The leaves of trees, from their size or number, are naturally 

 well calculated to form an agreeable and cooling shade, amidst 

 the sultry heats of the intra- tropical regions, 



where broad Palmettos shower 



Delicious coolness in the shadowy bower ; — (Montgomery's West Indies.) 



and even in countries that are not within the tropics the shade 

 afforded by the leaves of trees is still extremely desirable 

 during the heats of summer. Hence the soft and balmy slum- 

 bers which an ancient poet experienced under the cool and 

 delightful shade of the Plane-tree ; 



Avro&g sftoi y'hW'Co; inrvog vtto irT^ctrccvoi fix.Qvtyvh'hw . — Mosch. JdylLy^ % 



Hence also the celebrity of the groves of Academus, where 

 Plato and his successors delivered their lectures in philosophy, 

 and instilled into the minds of their youthful followers the 

 love of truth : diHw xang 



Scilicet ut possem curvo dignoscere rectum, 



Atque inter sylvas Academi quaerere verum. — Hor. Epist. u. lib. ii. 44... 



The odour of many plants, which is extremely grateful to 

 the smell, as well as their virtues, whether medical or dieteti- 

 cal, is very frequently contained in the leaf. Lastly, as the 

 leaf is merely a temporary or deciduous part, it dies in the 

 autumn or winter, and is regenerated in the succeeding spring, 



* Lour. Flor. Cochin. t Gen. iii. 7. 



R2 



