504 CONSERVATIVE ORGANS. JJLECT. IX. 



character of this description of covering. Thus it is 

 hairy (pilosa), when the hairs are soft, distinct, 

 somewhat long, and bent ; shaggy or velvety (vil- 

 losa), when they are soft, nearly erect, and paral- 

 lel; silky (sericea), when they are soft, and 'lie 

 thick and flat on the surface, giving it a satin-like 

 lustre; downy (tomentosa*), when they are very 

 soft and matted together, so that the individual 

 hairs are not distinguishable; woolly (lanata^-), 60, 

 (page 503), when they are also matted together, but 

 yet individually distinguishable ; tufted (floccosa), 

 when they are soft and matted, and can be easily 

 detached in small tufts; and starred (stellata), 

 when the hairs or the spines are radiated like 

 stars. In some instances the stellated appearance 

 proceeds from pedicillated tufts ; which under 

 the microscope appear like branched shrubs de- 

 void of foliage. It is necessary to remark that 

 differences of age, climate, soil, dryness and hu- 

 midity, alter very considerably the pubescence of 

 plants ; some which are tomentose when young, 

 become hispid, or smooth, when old; others which 

 are naturally hairy, become quite smooth when cul- 

 tivated ; and others, which in their native climate 

 are smooth, become hairy when removed. Sir J. 

 E. Smith, nevertheless, in opposition to the 



* " Tomentum servat plantas aventis; gaudet saepius co- 

 " lore incano." Phil. Bot. 163. 



f " Lana servat plantas ab sestu nimio." PhiL Bot. 163. 



