304 DR. M. J. SCHLEIDEN ON PHYTOGENESIS. 



it were cells of lower dignity than the parenchymatous cells ; and 

 perhaps this physiological peculiarity is connected with the fact, 

 that they more rarely secrete peculiar chemical substances, but are 

 mostly thickened only by depositions within their walls of new 

 vegetable fibrous substance, or more correctly, membranous sub- 

 stance. I cannot omit here venturing to throw out some hints, 

 which perhaps are less intimately connected with the pui'pose of 

 this Memoir, but which may probably at some future time be of 

 importance, for the understanding of the entire plant. Let 

 us once more pass under review the process of growth of the 

 plant just depicted. A simple cell, the pollen-tube, is its first 

 foundation. In this originate cells; in them are formed new 

 cells, and so forth through the entire life. But here, the mode 

 just mentioned of the origin of the vascular bundles and of the 

 epidermis in relation to the parenchyma, would point to this 

 fact ; that the lower the dignity of the cell, 1 . the greater power 

 does it possess of expanding and of extending in length, and 2. 

 the less capacity does it possess of forming peculiar fine sub- 

 stances in its interior. If now the potentialization of the cells goes 

 on throughout the entire growth of the plant, there follows from 

 thence a constantly closer approximation of organs otherwise kept 

 asunder, and a constantly higher ennobUng of the substances 

 developed in the cells. Consequently, the lower parts of the 

 internodes will ajjpear to be more elongated than the upper ; the 

 leaves and young shoots [summitates herbarum, Pharmacol.) con- 

 tain nobler saps than the stem ; the members are shortened as 

 they approach nearer to the upper terminal point of the plant, 

 the leaves come closer together, and the result of this internal 

 higher potentialization of the cell, of the constantly diminished 

 expansion in length, of the constantly nearer approximation of 

 the lateral organs, of the constantly more nobly developed sub- 

 stances, is, last of all, the flower, in its exclusive individuality, 

 with its splendour of colour, its perfume, and its secret capacity 

 of determining, by means of its juices, a single cell which is to 

 develope itself anew into an independent plant and pass anew 

 through the same cycle. 



I return after this digression to my subject. Hitherto I 

 believe I have demonstrated conclusively enough and in accord- 

 ance with nature, that in the whole growth of the plant* cells are 

 constantly formed only within cells. Let us now proceed to the 



* I would observe, tliat in the whole Memoir in general only phfeuogamous 

 plants are intended. 



