v ETYMOLOGY—CLASSIFICATION, CHARACTERISTICS 47 
like structures which interlace and form a loose felt work.” 
This is very noticeable, even without a lens, especially on 
the under side of many of the Bamboo leaves, for example in 
Arundinaria auricoma. But those who are curious upon 
the subject must go for further information to the fountain- 
head from which I have quoted. 
The waxy bloom is especially thick immediately below 
the projecting nodes of certain Arundinarias, to wit Arundi- 
naria Simoni; from which it would seem that for structural 
reasons there is more danger of the stomata being choked by 
the rising dew than by the falling rain, that is to say, either 
that they are more numerous immediately under than 
immediately above the node, or that the lower part, not 
being protected at an early stage by the sheaths which 
spring from and encircle the upper node, need this extra 
defence. 
In the very differently constructed plants of the Phyl- 
lostachys group, such as P. mitis, P. aurea, P. nigra, 
P. viridi-glaucescens, there is no hairy down to be found 
on the stems, and the bloom is only seen sparsely scattered 
immediately below the nodes. Probably their hard, compact, 
and almost flinty epidermis does not stand in need of any 
protection, the stomata, or transpiratory organs being situated 
on the under side of the leaves." 
Again, in Arundinaria the axillary buds of the branches, 
1 Some idea of the vast numbers of these stomata may be given by the 
statement that on the under side of an Oak leaf no less than 2 millions of 
stomata have been found, while in the Water Lily leaf they reach 114 millions ! 
In succulent plants, such as the House-leek and the Stone-crop, there are very 
few stomata, only from 10 to 20 in one square millimeter, which in the 
majority of plants would show from 200 to 300,—Kerner and Oliver, Part 
III., pp. 281, 288. 
