176 CONSERVATIVE ORGANS. [LECT. IV. 



It has been already stated, that each scale is not 

 only a distinct reservoir of nutriment ; but that it 

 is endued with such a share of vital energy, as 

 enables it, when detached from the bulb and 

 placed in a proper soil, to produce an entire new 

 bulb. In this respect, the scale resembles some 

 leaves, which I shall particularize when we treat 

 of those organs. The scales of the Canadian, 

 and those of the scarlet Pompone Lily, both of 

 which are natives of high latitudes, exhibit this 

 property more readily than any other of the tribe. 

 The young bulb rises either from a callus formed at 

 the base, or the margin of the scale * ; which gra- 

 dually decays away as the bulb enlarges ; and 

 finally separates from it as soon as a sufficient num- 

 ber of roots are produced to support this lateral 

 production as an independent being. The bulbs, 

 however, which are thus propagated, differ from 

 those formed in a more direct manner, as they pro- 

 duce leaves only ; and several successions of leaf 

 bulbs are propagated in a direct line from them, 



the scales of the adult bulb; b. the stem with the vessels injected; 

 c. the runner, with the vessels running through it to supply the 

 rudiments of the young bulb on its extremity ; d. a scale of the 

 young bulb ; e. the place where the runner that supported the 

 adult bulb was broken off. ' 



* Fig. 7. a scale of Lilium pomponium, with two bulbs, a. 

 and b. forming on it. Fig. 8. a portion of a scale of Lilium su- 

 perbum with a bulb formed on its edge ; a. a root already pro- 

 truded from the bulb. 



