80 PUBESCENCE. PART I, 



and do not discover any traits of pubescence, even 

 when inspected with the assistance of a lens. The 

 Laurel and Lilac are of this discription. Others 

 have their surface apparently smooth to the naked 

 eye ; but when viewed through a good magnifier 

 they are found to be covered with a pubescence. In 

 this case the pubescence is a sort of fine and im- 

 palpable down thinly scattered over the surface of 

 the leaf or stem, as in Coccus japonica and Poten- 

 tilla reptans. 

 Visible to But in most plants the pubescence is discovera- 



the naked . . 



ej e . ble both by the sight and touch, and in this case it 



assumes a great variety of aspects. 



Modifica- Sometimes it assumes the appearance of a fine 

 dust or powder shook over the surface of the plant, 

 as on the under surface of the leaves of Coronilla 

 glauca. Sometimes it assumes the appearance of a 

 fine and silky down laying straight and unentangled, 

 and close to the surface, as in Sophora argent ea and 

 Potent ilia anserina. Sometimes it assumes a cot- 

 tony or velvet like appearance, the hairs being 

 somewhat interwoven together, as in Gnaphalium 

 arbor eum and Althcea ojfflcinalis. Sometimes it as- 

 sumes a crisp and woolly appearance, the hairs 

 being much curled up and closely matted together, 

 as in Origanum Dictamnus. Sometimes it consists 



o 



of a few and scattered, but very conspicuous hairs, 

 as in Hieraciwn Pilosella (PL III. Fig. 14.) 

 Sometimes the hairs are long and shaggy, as in 

 Galeopsis villosa ; and sometimes they are stiff and 



lions. 



