CYCLOSIS. 127 



vessels transmitting it have been denominated laticifwous (^f 38). The 

 latex contains granules, which exhibit certain movements under the 

 microscope. These were first noticed by Schultz, who has written a 

 very elaborate treatise on the subject.* On account of these move- 

 ments in the latex, the laticiferous vessels have been denominated 

 Cinenchymatom (x.ivia, I move), and the movements themselves are in- 

 cluded under the name Cyclosis (x.vx.*ot, a circle.) Schultz looks upon 

 the latex as a fluid of vital importance, and similar to the blood in 

 animals. His views are opposed by Mohl, Tristan, and Treviranus, 

 who consider the latex as a granular fluid containing oil, resin, and 

 caoutchouc, which exhibits molecular movements only when injury is 

 done to the vessels containing it. 



262. The plants in which the movements are best observed, are those 

 in which the latex is milky or coloured, such as various species of 

 Ficus, Euphorbia, and Chelidonium. In fig. 223 there is represented 

 A small fragment of a leaf of 

 Chelidoniummajus(ce/aftc?ee), 

 which shows the currents of 

 orange granules in the lati- 

 ciferous vessels, their direction 

 being indicated by arrows. 

 From observations made last 

 summer, I am disposed to agree 

 with Schultz's statements. It 

 is true, as Mohl remarks, that 

 any injury done to the part 

 examined causes peculiar os- 

 cillatory movements, which 

 speedily cease. Thus if the 

 young unexpanded sepal of 

 the Celandine is removed from 

 the plant, and put under the 

 microscope, or if the inner 

 lining of the young stipule of 

 Ficus elastica be treated in a 

 similar manner, very obvious 



motion is seen in the granular contents of the vessels, and this motion 

 is affected by pricking the vessels or by pressure. In order to avoid 

 fallacy, however, I applied the microscope to the stipules of Ficus 

 elastica, Avhile still attached to the plant and uninjured; and I remarked 

 that, while pressure with any blunt object on the stipule caused a 



* Xova acta Acatlemire Ca;sar. Leopold-Carol. Natune Curios, torn, xviii. 



Fig. 223. Small portion of the leaf of Chelidonium majus or Celandine, (highly magnified), 

 showing a network of laticiferous vessels. The direction of the currents in the vessels is indi 

 cuted by the arrows. 



