LECT. VII.] ANATOMY OF STEMS. 307 



springing from a full-grown adult bulb, we per- 

 ceive that it first appears on the surface of the 

 ground like a large naked leaf-bud, which, when 

 dissected and minutely examined, consists, not only 

 of leaves overlapping each other, but also of the 

 rudiments of the flower and fructification. Before 

 this has risen much above the earth, the exterior 

 leaves separate at their apex from the others and 

 spread themselves out to the air and light, to 

 form those secretions which are partly deposited 

 in the portion of the stem below them, for the 

 purpose of affording it firmness and solidity; 

 whilst the more succulent portion above them 

 extends, carrying with it the bud, until the 

 leaves, next in succession, spread out and har- 

 den it in its turn. As the stem continues to ex- 

 tend and the leaves alternately to expand, it thus 

 attains the summit of its height. In this pro- 

 gress, the stem, as it advances, gradually loses a 

 portion of its diameter ; and a transverse section , 

 of it, near the summit, displays very few ligneous 

 vascular cords, compared with those of one near 

 the base ; and, consequently, contains less lig- 

 neous matter. At the point, however, where the 

 flower-stalks spring, it again thickens ; and the 

 attachment of these closely resembles that of the 

 branches of the Dracaena. 



In our demonstration of the anatomical struc- 

 ture of the stems of this tribe of plants, we stated 



