154 CONSERVATIVE ORGANS. [LECT. IV. 



at b. to the extremity of a lateral runner, proceed- 

 ing from the collar of the stem, immediately above 

 a. the old, or plant-bearing tuber. As the new tu- 

 ber makes very little progress until after the flow- 

 ering of the parent plant is over, it may escape 

 the observation of the student, if looked for be- 

 fore that period. The Musk Orchis, Ophrys 

 monorchis (fig. v), which has received its spe- 

 cific name Monorchis*, from having apparently 

 but one tuber, is the only example of this species 

 of tuber with which I am acquainted. 



2. Congregated pendulous tubers (Tubera con- 

 gregata) are more generally either globular or 

 ovate, surrounding the stem, attached by runners 

 or fibres which connect them with it at different 

 distances, and in indefinite numbers. Like all 

 other tubers, they are reservoirs of nutriment 

 and moisture ; whilst the runners to which they 

 are attached perform an office similar to that of 

 the umbilical cord in animals ; conveying the pro- 

 per juice from the parent plant to the tubers, to 

 be deposited in them for the support of the suc- 

 ceeding plants; and maintaining the connexion 

 between the plant and its lateral progeny, the 

 gems on the surface of the tubers, until these are 

 perfected and endued with that vitality which en- 

 ables them to exist as independent beings. It is a 



* From /uo'vos (monos), one. 



