149 



carefully cut out in the sod, by the oiiginal discoverer (Linneeus Aughton of Southport), 

 through the kindness of my friend Dr. J. B. Wood, of Manchester. Notwithstanding 

 the apparent facilities for laying hare the root of the plant, the soil consisting of mere 

 sand, it was not an easy task to separate the extraneous matter from the subject of en- 

 quiry, and at the same time to preserve the connexion^ if any, that might exist between 

 the root of the Monotropa and that of the Salix included in the sod ; but having bestow- 

 ed considerable care on the process, 1 feel warranted in stating that the plant is not a 

 parasite. The root seems to consist of a number of branched tubers, whose extremi- 

 ties are not attenuated, but obtuse. My idea of the tuberous nature of the root, is 

 founded on the fact that young buds are found immersed in the substance of the cy- 

 lindrical ramifications, destined, I presume, to become future branches, which grow 

 out at right angles from that on which they are fixed. If spongioles exist at all, they 

 must be sought for at the extremities of the ramifications. It may be as well to state 

 that the individual examined possessed a rudimentary stem, which had all the appear- 

 ance of being a successive growth for development at a future season. The position 

 of this embryo stem was somewhat peculiar, pointing downwards. I believe the plant 

 to be entirely destitute of stumata : it also differs materially from Lathraea in its eco- 

 nomy, having nothing whatever analogous to the subterranean leaves of that plant. 



Since writing the above I have read the paper by Mr. Lees, — ' On the parasitic 

 growth of Monotropa Hypopitys,' (Phytol. 97) ; and whilst I admit that my researches, 

 however carefully conducted, afford only negative proof, I think it must be granted 

 that neither the drawings nor the observations of Mr. Lees are conclusive, and that 

 the affirmative evidence of the parasitism of Monotropa, amounts to no more than 

 prohability. Moreover, I cannot avoid the inference that the investigation has not 

 been conducted with that care and scientific skill which the subject demands; for no- 

 thing like microscopic dissection appears in Mr. Lees' drawings, and the mere appli- 

 cation of a lens will not solve the mystery. In my deliberate judgment the " fleshy 

 clustered radicles " mentioned in the foot-note at p. 100, form the proper and the only 

 root of the plant; and some of Mr. Lees' remarks confirm this opinion. In the 

 Southport plant examined by me, there was indeed a very close investment of the root, 

 nearly like that described by Mr. Lees; but my inference was that it consisted of the 

 woolly matted extremities of the grasses which grew with the Monotropa : be that as 

 it may, I succeeded in detaching it from the roots of the latter, with as much ease as 

 such a coat might be expected to permit, and when detached there was no appearance 

 of laceration or "solution of continuity" between it and the root which it had encased. 

 Some idea of this coating may be gathered from the cloth-like arillus of the seed of 

 the tamarind. I will now briefly state what I myself observed at variance with the 

 position laid down by Mr. Lees. 



1st. That the mass composing the root of the Southport Monotropa had a white 

 covering of a matted and somewhat woolly substance, supposed to proceed from the ra- 

 dicles of the grasses which grew with it. Under the microscope, and after careful 

 anatomical examination, I could not find the least trace of organic connexion be- 

 tween this coating and the root of the Monotropa. 



2ndly. That there was not even contact, much less parasitical connexion, between 

 this white coating and the roots of the Salix contained in the sod. 



I may here mention what were my perceptions as to the scent given out by Mono- 

 tropa. Mr. Lees confirms the account given by Smith, and it would appear that a 

 primrose-like scent exhales from the ])]ant, even when in seed. Fresh flowering plants 



