DECOMPOSITE ORGANS. CHAP. I, 



circumference ; but the largest not being more than 

 the third of a line in diameter. These spots are 

 the divided extremities of bundles of longitudinal 

 fibres passing from the base to the summit of the 

 stem, in a direction parallel to its axis, and sepa- 

 rable by maceration. 



This is the famous example adduced by Dau- 

 benton and Defontaines, in illustration of the 

 structure of what are usually termed Monocoty- 

 ledonous plants, to which order of plants, it seems, 

 there are some botanists who believe that the Date 

 Palm does not at all belong.* If this is the fact, 

 which appears to be extremely doubtful, then the 

 Date Palm is rather an unlucky example of the 

 order of plants in question. But to whatever order 

 it may belong in an arrangement founded on the 

 character of the cotyledon, there can be no doubt 

 with regard to its order, in an arrangement such 

 as the present. 



2. The Pulp being tubular. When the pulp 

 is tubular, the bundles of longitudinal fibres are 

 generally arranged in a circular row either simple 

 or compound, immediately under the bark ; so as, 

 in conjunction with the interspersed pulp, to 

 form externally a fluted column, and internally a 

 hollow cylinder, that is sometimes partly filled with 

 a floccy or pith-like substance, and sometimes al- 

 together empty. 



Asinhem- If the stem of the Garden Parsnep or Comi 

 lock. 



* Smith's Inquiry, &c. Lin. Trans, ix. 



5 



