504 



so apparent, unless the new ones are broken off in the manner already 

 described. 



I have now in water nearly 100 roots : amongst them is every vari- 

 ety of form from the nearly fibrous, described by Mr. Lees' figure, to 



<i, a, Root of Lachenalii according lo Mr. Lees. 



b, h. Do. peucedanifolia do. do. 



c, c. Surface of mud. 



d, Old Stem withered and fallen. 



Others which include all the forms figured by Mr. Watson in the 

 ' Phytologist ' (Phytol. ii. 398), as peucedanifolia and Lachenalii, as 

 well as most of that gentleman's figures of pimpinelloides, p. 397. It 

 may be observed that in all the former kind (that is to say, those most 

 nearly resembling Mr. Lees' figure), there is the evident disposition to 

 become tuberous, most of the roots being in a state of transition 

 where not already tuberous. 



This twofold character of root can hardly be peculiar to the Yar- 

 mouth and some few other stations, although it would appear to be so 

 from the testimony of some coiTespondents in the ' Phytologist,' but 

 who have, I suspect, possessed themselves of only the upper portion 

 of the roots, from not having taken them up with sufficient care. I 

 am the more inclined to this opinion, because some of my large fibrous 

 roots lately taken up agree with Mr. Lees' figure of Lachenalii, not 

 only in form, but in the presence of fibrillae ; and because many, if 



