Prof. G. Gulliver on Raphides. 55 
of nature, are more easily explicable. Thus when, under the 
article “ Raphides ” in the last edition of the valuable ‘ Micro- 
graphic Dictionary,’ we are told that there are few of the higher 
plants which do not contain them, and that they abound in 
Euphorbiacee, Cactacex, and Polygonacee, and in the roots of 
Umbelliferee and the sepals of Geraniacez and Orchidacez, it is 
certain that spheraphides and other crystals are confounded 
with raphides, and that these last are by no means limited to 
the calyx in Orchidaceze. Of Euphorbiaceee my examinations 
have been confined to our indigenous species, in which I have 
not yet seen bundles of raphides, and suppose that the starch- 
sticks in the latex of this order (‘ Annals,’ March 1862) may 
have been originally described by Rafn as saline crystals, and 
the error often copied since; but with his observations I am 
only acquainted at second hand. And while spheraphides and 
other crystals are so common in our trees and shrubs, I have 
never found these plants characterized by raphides; so that this 
department alone still affords an interesting field of research *. 
Again, the minute single crystals which I have described in the 
ovaries of British Composite and in the leaves of Gentiana 
acaulis are not true raphides. As to systematic botany, the 
value of raphides as natural characters seems never to have been 
at all recognized,—certainly not in our best English works. 
Nor indeed was it likely to be while the statements of Schleiden 
and others, already alluded to, remained current ; and the pau- 
city, confusion, and uncertainty of the facts made them utterly 
insufficient and unavailable for the purpose. And this is the 
more remarkable after such an illustrious botanist as Lindley 
(Intr. to Bot. 3rd ed.), with the excellent assistance of Edwin 
Quekett, had long since perceived the interest of raphides in 
connexion with organography, and pointed out their presence in 
certain Nyctaginaceze, Orchidacez, and Aracezx. 
Of the practical applications a few more instructive examples 
may be added. In gardening operations, I have always found 
it easy, and often very useful, to pick out, simply by the raphi- 
dian character, seedlings of the many exotic Onagracez, now so 
commonly cultivated, from seedlings of other orders. And some 
* Tf our Societies would offer prizes to young persons for inquiries of 
this kind, instead of temptations to the extirpation of our rare native 
plants, some good might result ; for numerous observations with a definite 
aim, and such as may be easily made with a cheap microscope, are much 
required ; and they are calculated to elevate the taste to a perception of 
the importance of the life of the plant-cell, and to open a wide field of 
rational amusement and instruction for families in the country. As to 
species, those of such genera as Carex and Salix, Rosa and Rubus, would 
be well fitted to try the knowledge and industry of students. 
