308 CONSERVATIVE ORGANS. [LECT. VII. 



to you that those which are articulated, or knotted 

 and nevertheless solid, form the link between the 

 more common solid herbaceous, and the hollow 

 or fistular monocotyledonous stems. As they 

 display something in common with each, and yet 

 differ from both, in some degree, in structure, so, 

 also, they differ from both in the development of 

 their parts. The leaves are given off at the joints, 

 or knots only, and in general embrace the stem, 

 or are sheathing to a certain extent: and when 

 they protrude branches, these originate in gems 

 formed at the joints, between the stem and the 

 leaf, in a manner very closely resembling that in 

 which young lateral bulbs are formed on the ex- 

 terior of the laminated bulbs. These productions, 

 indeed, may be almost regarded as lateral pro- 

 geny, rather than real branches ; for they shoot out 

 radical fibrils at the lower part of a knee which 

 they often form with the main stem ; and, taking 

 root in the earth, perpetuate the existence of the 

 plant after the decay of the original stem. The 

 parts of the stem below these lateral shoots increase, 

 in a small degree, in diameter, from causes similar 

 to those which have been already detailed as pro- 

 ducing the increased diameter of the stem of the 

 Dracsena; and it is in this respect chiefly that 

 this stem differs in the manner of its growth from 

 the culm or fistular monocotyledonous stem. This 

 description will be better understood by refer- 



