310 COMPOSITE ORGANS. CHAP. II. 



notice of. The epidermis of the inside of the 

 petals of Crocus vernus, when placed under the 

 microscope, does not present the appearance of a 

 net-work, nor of an assemblage of cells, nor of the 

 clusters of bubbles that form on the surface of 

 liquor in a state of fermentation ; but rather that 

 of a thin and individual layer of parallel and tan- 

 gent reeds of unequal lengths, interspersed with 

 multitudes of minute and shining points, and re- 

 sembling a front view of the false pipes of an organ. 

 Hence the structure of the epidermis is found to be 

 characterized by the same sort of variety of modi- 

 fication, as the structure of the other parts of the 

 plant. 



With regard to the peculiar areas interspersed 

 throughout the network of the leaves, together with 

 their central appearances, and ducts of communica- 

 tion with the fibres constituting the meshes, the 

 description of Hedwig is undoubtedly the most cor- 

 rect, as may be seen by inspecting with a good micro- 

 scope the epidermis of the leaf of the Tulip or Hya- 

 cinth, or even of the common Lettuce or Cabbage 

 of the garden ; which I specify merely as being 

 easily procured, and exhibiting, at the same time, 

 the appearances distinctly. 



The observations of Hedwig were made chiefl 

 on the cuticle of the seed lobes of Perilla ocy mo- 

 ides, and Cheiranthus incanus ; on the leaf and 

 calyx, or corolla, of Lilium bulbiferum ; and on 

 the leaf of Zea Mays or Indian Corn. But one of 





