300 DECOMPOSITE ORGANS* CHAP. I. 



count of any thing peculiar in their structure, 

 which is reducible to one or other of the substances 

 already named, and seems to be merely a partial 

 prolongation of inflated pulp or epidermis ; but 

 because it has been doubted whether there are in- 

 deed any organs in vegetables analogous to the 

 glands of the animal system, and consequently 

 whether the term gland ought to be at all retained. 

 But if the fluids absorbed by the root are modified 

 and elaborated in the course of their progress 

 through the plant, as there is every reason to 

 believe they are, it is likely that this elaboration 

 is partly effected by the instrumentality of glands. 

 Whether And as some of the substances so designated have 

 secretion, been found to secrete a peculiar fluid, as in the case 

 of Cruciform flowers, the name ought by all means 

 to be retained. 



But the hairs constituting the external pubes- 

 cence have been regarded by some phytologists as 

 being also glands, though they have been regarded 

 by others as being merely organs of excretion. It 

 is at least certain that they contain in many cases 

 a peculiar juice, which they have probably secreted. 

 For they are often covered with a clammy or viscid 

 substance, or terminated by a drop of transparent 

 and odorous fluid, which exudes from them. In 

 the Nettle they contain a pungent and corrosive 

 fluid, which is lodged and discharged by pressure. 

 But the most decisive observations or experiments 

 on this subject are those of Deyeux. On the stem., 



