ABRUPT ROOTS. 101 



ned l>eneath, and the whole root raised above the sur- 

 face of the ground. Thus reversed, it continued to 

 grow, the former roots being crowned with leaves, and 

 in a few years decorated with flower?, while the former 

 branches put forth radical fibres, whereby the shrub 

 derived its nourishment from the earth. 



It is obvious that when a plant is thus reversed, the 

 course of its fluids must be changed, for the sap still 

 continues to ascend through the wood, and the cambi- 

 um to descend through the vessels of the bark ; though 

 according to the observations of Mr. Knight, the new 

 wood is deposited above the leaf-buds, and not as in 

 ordinary vegetation below them. In this case it is prob- 

 able that the plant retains a portion of its original dis- 

 position, which however, gradually wears away with 

 age, and at last the fluids circulate, and the plant grow? 

 exactly as in its natural position, 



If any one will take the pains to examine the roots 

 of many of our native Violets, he will find that they 

 terminate abruptly, appearing as if they had been bit- 

 ten or broken off ; and he will then have a correct 

 idea of the abrupt root, which is by no means peculiar 

 to the Violets. An English plant, furnished with a 

 similar root, is termed DeviVs-bit ; and from an old 

 writer whose name is recalled by some of the most 

 beautiful of our late flowers,* we learn why it bears 

 so singular an appellation. He says upon the authority 

 of" old fantasticke charmers, that the divel did bite it 

 for envie, because it is an herbe that hath so many 

 good vertues and is so beneficial to mankinde." Un- 

 fortunately for the patients of the present day, the en- 



* Gerardia, dedicated to the memory of Gerard, whos 

 < monunjentof his industry and zeal. 



• JO 



