200 Dr. GoODENOUGH and Mr. Woodward*^ Ohfervations on 



culi modo eredi modo procumbentes, difFufiufcuIi, teretes, ramo- 

 fifTimi, dichotomi, adapicem fx-pe trifidi, apicibus obtufis — AnguU 

 ramificationum magis patentes quaiti inaffinibus, immofub-redli — 

 Rami faftigiati, et fepiflime ad ultimas dichotomias annulati et quafi 

 geniculati — Eft ubi vix ac ne vix unum geniculum adcfl: — Interdum 

 ut ill !i omnis extrema dichotomia annulo oruatur — Subjlaiiiia car- 

 tilaginea — Color nigro-olivaceus, in apicibus ramonim faspe viref- 

 cens, pallidas — FruSlificatio, tiibercula lateralia in ramis ramulifque 

 i'parfa — Altltudo in a. i — juncialis et ultra ; in /3 3 — yuncialis. 



The different appearances which this plant afTumes have created 

 no fmall trouble in endeavouring to ftrike out a proper fpecific cha- 

 rafter. This difficulty has arifen in no fmall degree from that ap- 

 pearance of rings which is obfervable in fome, but more efpecially 

 in the larger fpecimens. They have perplexed many. 



We have differed many of thefe rings in various directions, 

 and have never been able to difcover any tendency to frufilification 

 in them. We obferve alfo, in general, that thefe rings veiy feldom 

 occur in the fmaller plants. We mention thefe two circumftances 

 as grounds of argument, that the rings ought to have nothing to do 

 in conftituting the fpecles ; for we argue that they are owing to 

 an injury having been received, and in confequence, the progrefs 

 of growth being carried on by a new branch fhootingout from the 

 internal part, a fort of callous fear, or annular feam, remains as a 

 memorial of the truncation of the part. Thus, as this is no organ 

 of fructification, we fay it is not a neceflary part ; and as it is not 

 conftant in the fmaller fpecimens (by fmaller we do not mean 

 younger, for the fmaller fpecimens we fpeak of are fo from foil 

 andiituation) we argue it is no charaAer. We are therefore fairly 

 at liberty to ufe our own ideas, and fuppofe thefe rings merely as 

 the efFc6l of injury. 



Our 



