CHAP. II. CUTICLE, 43 



that the stomates from which such glands arise are altogether 

 imperfect ; for on the under side of the leaves of Dionaea we 

 find other stomates of the usual figure and character. It is, 

 however, worthy of remark, that here also there exists a great 

 many imperfect stomates closed up by tufts of hairs springing 

 from their orifice. 



Stomates are not found in Mosses, Fungi, Algae, or Lichens 

 (see Introduction to the Natural System) ; in no submersed plants, 

 or submersed parts of amphibious plants ; it is also said, not 

 in Monotropa hj^opithys, Neottia nidus avis, and Cuscuta 

 europaea. They are not formed in the cuticle of plants growing 

 in darkness, nor upon roots, nor the ribs of leaves. It fre- 

 quently happens that they are found upon one surface of a 

 leaf, but not on another, and generally in most abundance 

 on the under side. In succulent parts they are neither rare 

 nor wholly wanting, as has been constantly asserted; but 

 are, on the contrary, as numerous as on many other parts. 

 They may be generally seen upon the caljTc; often on the 

 corolla; and rarely, but sometimes, upon the filaments, an- 

 thers, and styles. In fruit, they have only been noticed 

 upon such as are membranous, and never vipon the coat 

 of the seed ; they exist, however, upon the surface of coty- 

 ledons. 



Brown thinks that the uniformity of the stomates, in figure, 

 position, and size, with respect to the meshes of the cuticle, is 

 often such as to indicate the limits, and sometimes the affini- 

 ties, of genera, and of their natural sections. He has shown, 

 with his usual skill, that this is the case in Proteacese. He 

 also remarks, that on the microscopic character of the equal 

 existence of stomates on both surfaces of the leaf depends that 

 want of lustre which is so remarkable in the forests of New 

 Holland. {Journal of the Royal Gcogr. Society^ i. 21.) 



The same botanist is of opinion, that the two glands, or ra- 

 ther bladders, of which a stomate is composed, are each analo- 

 gous to the single bladders found occupying the inner face of 

 the meshes of the cuticle. (Plate iii. fig. 9.) See the Memoir 

 on the impregnation of OrcliidecE.) 



The following table of the proportion of stomates on the 

 surface of various organs will serve to give some idea of their 



