242 CONSERVATIVE ORGANS. [LECT. VI. 



other plants, the foliage and fructification of which 

 spring directly from the root or some of its ap- 

 pendages ; as, for example, the Meadow Saffron, 

 Colchicum autumnale ; stemless Asphodel, Aspho- 

 delus acaulis ; and stemless Artichoke, Cynara 

 acaulis, &c. These plants are nevertheless perfect, 

 and capable of performing all the functions ne- 

 cessary in their economy ; the term imperfect, as 

 I formerly observed, being applicable to indi- 

 viduals only, in which the organs necessary for 

 carrying on the functions of the plant and pro- 

 viding for the continuation of the species are de- 

 fective. 



Under the general name of stem is compre- 

 hended that portion of a plant which, proceeding 

 from the upper part of the root, affords support to 

 the branches, the leaves, and the fructification *. 

 If we take a view of the vegetable kingdom, we 

 are struck with the wonderful diversity in the 

 size, direction, form, and exterior aspect of this 

 part of plants. How great is the difference 

 in strength, for example, betwixt the delicate 



* " Truncus multiplicat herbas, et immediate a radice 

 " ad fructificationem ducit, vestitus foliis, terminates fructifi- 

 " catione." Phil. Bot. 81. 



" Truncus folia et fructificationem profert.'* Ibid. 82. 



" Tige support principal des parties du ve"ge" tal qui s'elevent 

 " au dessus de terre." Mirbel, Elemens, %c. p. 622. 



Willdenow denominates it the stock (cormusj. Prin- 

 ciples of Botany, 15. 



