246 CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
sumed, which, when the cell is moistened with water, comes 
forth in form of an intestine (wie ein Darm hervortritt), and in 
swelling exparids itself over the fibres, thus appearing to sur- 
round them ; this is the case in most Salvie and Polemoniacee, 
in Senecio flaccidus, Ocymum polystachyum and polycladum 
(Lumnitzera, Jacq.) There is an intermediate form between 
this and the former, when the jelly itself forms a broad 
spirally-wound band, which appear upon its surface to be com- 
posed of innumerable delicate fibres; their occurrence in this 
state is very beautifully shown in Perdicium Tarazxaci and 
Ziziphora. A still less advanced stage of development exhibits 
merely a cylinder or cone of gelatine in the interior of the 
cell, the surface of which, however, is marked with delicate 
spiral lines. This is seen in some Salvia, in 8. verticillata for 
example, and in Leptosiphon androsaceum. Finally, the lowest 
stage of development is where the gelatinous cylinder, which 
is furnished with spiral striz, has a cavity in its imterior con- 
taining starch, which has not as yet undergone decomposi- 
tion; this instructive phenomenon is found in Dracocephalum 
moldavica, Ocymum basilicum, and some allied species. In illus- 
tration of the above, consult plate 2, figs. 1-10, with their 
explanations. 
Before quitting the subject of spiral fibre, I will merely 
add, what indeed has been of late admitted by every good 
observer, that the only difference between spiral cell and spiral 
vessel consists in the dimensions, although constant transitions 
may be observed between them just as well as between the cells 
of the liber and the parenchyma; and consequently, as regards 
this doctrine at least, there is no longer any place for natural- 
philosophical phantasies about the arrestment of ideal forms of 
higher types, and such like empty words. That which forms a 
liber-cell out of a round cell, the preponderating expansion of an 
organ lengthwise, is also that which transforms the spiral cells 
(the vermiform bodies) into spiral vessels. The function of the 
spiral fibre, however, is, as every candid vegetable physiologist 
will certainly admit, entirely unknown to us at the present 
time. It is certain that spiral vessels and spiral cells occur in 
the living plant quite as frequently filled with sap (in the 
younger vegetating portions) as with air (in the older organs 
which have attained their full size); and it is this which has 
