946 



night ; but this periodicity is not accurately determined. There can 

 be no doubt that the dropping arises from an excess of fluid beyond 

 that which is requisite for the nourishment of the plant. The drop- 

 ping ceases with the development of the spathe and organs of repro- 

 duction. The necessity of the plant for water was greatest during 

 the night, but especially on the development of the spathe. 



" A supplement gives a diary of the watery secretions of the 

 leaves of Canna angustifolia, indica, and latifolia. The secretion of 

 watery fluid takes place in Canna, not from the apices of the leaves 

 as in Calla, but from the apices of the parallel ribs, which terminate 

 at the margin of the leaf; and generally more from those which are 

 nearer the apex of the leaf, than from those which are situated nearer 

 to its base. From these terminations of the principal veins of the 

 leaves, close to the margin, where they lose themselves in a delicate 

 network or anastomose (seldom in the middle of the surface of the 

 leaf), towards evening and at night, imperceptibly exudes a clear 

 watery fluid, which collects in drops and patches on the upper and 

 on the under surface of the lamina ; running from it sometimes, but 

 rarely, in a quantity, as copious as from the apex of the Calla aethio- 

 pica. The temperature of the air stands at least in no near relation 

 to this excretion. It is rather promoted than hindered by the growth 

 of the leaves ; but it is quite the reverse when the plant puts forth 

 stalks and flowers. This secretion then generally ceases for ever." 



On the Ramification of CaryophyllecB. — Professor Wydler, of 

 Bern, observes that " the branches [of these plants] are situated, as 

 we know, alternately in the angles of the opposite leaves, the upper- 

 most pair of leaves excepted, where the branches likewise are oppo- 

 site. The author, however, remarked opposite branches also in 

 Cerastium arvense, Stellaria graminea, Spergula nodosa, but one of 

 them was always more diminutive than the other. Also in the Cary- 

 ophylleae, the branch connected with the first is always less deve- 

 loped, but that of the second bract (vorblatt) is the stronger and more 

 ramified. The author adds that though these may be the external 

 appearances, their intimate nature remains a secret to us, but that it 

 might be possible to discover it if we were to regard the plant, not as 

 a complete, but as a progressive object. All physiologists have done 

 this, and I know of none but descriptive botanists who regard the 

 plant as complete, and are able to view it only in that light. The 

 cause does not lie here, but in that we do not take into view the 

 whole vegetable kingdom, and consider in all its extent the eflbrt of 



