IrECT. IV.] THE ROOT. BULBS. 167 



grown,, incumbent on it ; as exemplified in 

 Crocus*, Ixia^y &c. The old bulb withers, whilst 

 those which it bears are attaining maturity; but 

 it does not entirely decay away, so as to leave its 

 progeny as distinct and separate individuals, until 

 the new bulbs be formed on them. In some in- 

 stances, Crocus for example, the plants of the 

 present year, besides exhausting the old bulb for 

 their support, appear to obtain that portion also of 

 their nourishment, which is drawn from the soil, 

 through it ; the vessels that proceed from its ra- 

 dical plate passing through the centre of the 

 present year's bulbs, and sending canals even to 

 the rudiments of those formed at the basis of their 

 foliage. This is rendered evident to the naked 

 eye by dividing bulbs of Crocus sativus, taken 

 up in the latter end of May ^. In other plants, as 



* Vide Plate 1 . fig. 5. Bulbs of Crocus sativus dug up in 

 May. a. b. the perfected bulbs, adhering closely to c. the old 

 bulb much shrivelled ; d. the radical plate of the old bulb with 

 roots protruded from its circumference. 



f Fig 7. Bulbs of Ixia polystachia taken up, also, in May. 

 a. b. the new bulbs which bear the present year's foliage and 

 flower, partly covered with c. the reticulated coat of the old 

 bulb d. ; e. e. e. e. e. the roots of the recent bulbs, protruded 

 between them and the old bulb;,/, a small bulb appended by a 

 runner as described in the text. 



J Fig. 6. The bulbs of fig. 5 dissected : a. b. the re- 

 cent bulbs ; c. the old bulb, with its vessels seen passing 

 up from its radical plate, and continued through the new 

 bulb to the basis of its foliage ; d. two cords of vessels which 



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