SJ8 COMPOSITE ORGANS. CHAP. II. 



the area of the meshes to be again traversed by fine 

 threads forming a secondary net-work. On a trans- 

 verse section of the leaf of the Aloe it seemed as if 

 composed of a number of layers of little bladders, 

 and on a longitudinal section the appearance was 

 nearly the same. The figure of the cells was hex- 

 agonal with unequal sides, and their colour green, 

 but of a deeper shade towards the surface of the 

 leaf. In the calyx of the Sunflower a number of 

 small fibres were found traversing the cellular sub- 

 stance which seemed to be intersected and bound 

 together by others crossing them in a horizontal 

 direction. The petals, stamens, and pistil, of the 

 Lily exhibited a similar appearance, which was not, 

 however, upon the whole very common.* 

 And Mir- But M. Mirbel,the latest author, as I believe, who 

 has published any thing important on the subject, 

 and who treats of it under the appellation of the 

 Cellular tissue, presents us with a description of it 

 considerably different from the foregoing. His ob- 

 servations were chiefly made upon it as it occurs in 

 the Elder, as exhibiting the parts on a larger scale 

 than most others plants. A section of the Cellular 

 tissue or integument, whether vertical or transverse, 

 presented the appearance of an assemblage of hexa- 

 gonal cells resembling the cells of the Bee, each 

 side being common to two cells, and the whole ar- 

 ranged with the most perfect symmetry. But if 

 the cells happened to be compressed by any foreign 

 * Seneb. Phys. Veget. 



