QR APPENDAGES OF PI-ANTS. 229 



upon it. " The Pubescence/' says he, " is 

 a ridiculous distinction, being for the most 

 part effaced by culture/' After quoting 

 examples, he concludes : " We are there- 

 fore not to have recourse to the hairiness 

 or spines of plants but in case of absolute 

 necessity." Such necessity every botanist 

 will allow to have existed in the Mentlue 

 and in Myosotis scorpioides ; and though 

 the degree of pubescence varies from cul- 

 ture, and even its structure be changeable, 

 as in Hedypnois hispida, Engl. Bot. t. 554, 

 and liirta, t. 555, its direction is I believe 

 as little liable to exception as any character 

 {hat vegetables present. 



