14 



On a Peculiar Distribution of Vein in Leaves of the 

 Natural Order Umbelliferje. By John Gorham, 

 M.R.CS., &c. 



(Commuuicated by Jabez Hogg, Esq., F.L.S., Hon. Sec. Roy. Mic. Soc.) 



(Read Nov. 13tli, 18G7.) 



Some short time since I was induced to examine the mode 

 of distribution of the veins in the leaves of that extensive 

 and difficult family belonging to the natural order Um- 

 belliferfe. Difficult and distasteful as this order had always 

 heretofore appeared to me, notwithstanding the charm with 

 which its classification had been invested by the beauty and 

 symmetry of the sections of its points (pericarps), it was not 

 long before I was induced to alter my opinion, for, as leaf 

 after leaf came under review, a freshness, a character, an 

 individuality, seemed to spring up and portray itself in each ; 

 and after some twenty or thirty specimens had been exa- 

 mined I was almost constrained to admit, not only that my 

 prejudices were unfounded, and that the plants themselves 

 were really very beautiful, but, further, that it was sufficient 

 merely to investigate this particular portion (venation) of the 

 plant in order to determine its species — a conclusion which, so 

 far as my present experience will permit me to decide, I do 

 not feel disposed to modify, and less to forego. 



Before proceeding to the immediate subject of this paper 

 I would beg to make a few remarks, at thea'isk of appearing 

 somewhat egotistical, as to my investigation of leaves in gene- 

 ral, with a view to their venation, and 1 do so for the purpose 

 of clearing the way, of showing, in other words, the grounds 

 of any claims I may have on the attention of the FelloAvs of 

 the Royal Microscopical Society of London, but especially 

 in answer to a very pertinent question which has been put 

 to me by the Honorary Secretary of the Society, as to 

 " Whether I have examined other classes, and feel sure that 

 the mode of venation I have presently to describe is not 

 pretty general, rather than confined to the Umbelliferse V 

 Now, in answer to this question, it is necessary that I should 

 state that so long since as 1845 I made a collection of many 

 thousands of leaves, taking their impressions, and classifying 

 them, in order to illustrate every mode of venation that was 

 described by Dr. Lindley. Many of the impressions of 

 leaves forwarded by myself to this celebrated botanist were 

 submitted to him for the purpose of showing that a place 

 could not be found for them in any single class, owing to the 

 twofold character of their venation — one part of the leaf 



