556 CONSERVATIVE ORGANS. [LECT. X. 



leaves*; but are distinct vessels, uniting with 

 the longitudinal bundles in a singular manner, as 

 is apparent (8. a. page 553) in a very highly mag- 

 nified view of one of the angles formed by a 

 transverse fasciculus and a longitudinal vascular 

 cord. One of the vessels appears to belong 

 to the longitudinal fascicle ; but the other termi- 

 nates there, and has its extremity applied to the 

 side of one of the vessels forming a part of the 

 longitudinal fascicle. Whether there is any open- 

 ing directly into the longitudinal vessel on which 

 the extremity of the transverse vessel is applied I 

 have not been able to determine. From these 

 demonstrations we may conclude that the vas- 

 cular system of the sessile leaves of monocoty- 

 ledons, consists of fasciculi composed of spiral 

 vessels accompanied with proper vessels which 

 are not spiral, arranged in longitudinal lines, and 

 connected by smaller transverse threads; the 

 whole forming a reticulated texture with irregular 

 rhomboidal meshes. The longitudinal vessels are a 

 continuation of those which are nearest to the 

 surface, in the root caudex, or the stem from 

 which the leaves immediately spring; and thus 



* It is bold to dissent from such authority on the subject of 

 vegetable anatomy ; but the improvement of microscopes since 

 Dr. Grew's time, has enabled many Phytologists of very in- 

 ferior abilities to that great man, to point out some errors into 

 which he had been led by the imperfection of his instruments. 



