STUDY XI. I79 



tubes and fponges with which they are lined, for re- 

 ceiving the vapours exhaled from the ground, con- 

 firms what was advanced refpecting the ufe of the 

 leaves of mountain-plants, hollowed into gutters, 

 or conftructed into the form of a pencil, or of a fan, 

 for receiving the waters of Heaven. But aquatic 

 plants, which had no need of fuch recipients, be- 

 caufe they thrive in water, have, if I may fo exprefs 

 myfelf, a repulfive foliage. 1 mall here prefent 

 an object, of comparifon, calculated to produce 

 conviction of the truth of thofe principles : for 

 example, the mountain-box-tree, and the caper- 

 plant of the rocks, have their leaves hollowed into 

 a fpoon form, with the concavity turned toward 

 Heaven ; but the vaccinium of the marines, (cran- 

 berjy) or vaccinia palujlris, which is likewife furnifh- 

 ed with concave leaves, bears them inverted, with 

 the cavity turned toward the earth. Fro.m this ne- 

 gative character, I was enabled to diftinguim, as a 

 plant of the marfhes, a very rare plant in the Royal 

 Garden, which I faw for the firft time. It is the 

 Lttum palujire, which grows in the marfhes of the 

 Labrador country. It's leaves, formed like little 

 coffee-fpoons, are all inverted ; their convex fide 

 being turned % toward Heaven. The water-lentil 

 of our marines, as well as the typha of our rivers, 

 has the middle of it's leaf fwelled. 



n 2 Botanids, 



