16 or THE CUTICLE OR EPIDERMIS. 



of this part in the several ways above mentioned, con- 

 tends that it is not a distinct organ like the cuticle of 

 animals, but merely formed of the cellular parts of the 

 plant dilated and multiplied, and changed by their new 

 situation. This is very true ; but upon the same prin- 

 ciple the human cuticle can scarcely be called a distinct 

 organ. Its texture is continually scaling off externally, 

 and it is supplied with new layers from within. Just 

 so does the cuticle of the Birch peel off in scales, se- 

 parable, almost without end, into smaller ones. 



Examples of different kinds of cuticle may be seen 

 in the following plants. 



On the Currant tree it is smooth, and scales off in 

 large entire flakes, both from the young branches and 

 old stem. The same may be observed in the Elder. 



The fruit of the Peach and the leaf of the Mullein 

 have a cuticle covered with dense and rather harsh 

 wool, such as is found on many Mexican plants, and 

 on more Cretan ones,. The latter we know grow in 

 open places under a burning sun. 



The leaf of the White Willow is clothed with a fine 

 silky or satiny cuticle. 



The cuticle of the Betony, and of many other 

 plants, is extended into rigid hairs or bristles, which 

 in the Nettle are perforated and contain a venomous 

 fluid. 



On the fruit of the Plum, and on many leaves, we 

 find a blueish dry powder covering the cuticle, which 

 is a resinous exudation, and it is difficult to wet the 



