INTRODUCTION. 9 



that from a broken leaf of the Lachenalea discolor, 

 perfect bulbs were formed from the oozing sap ! 

 There are other instances of this generative 

 power of plants, as exemplified in the Hcemanthus, 

 the malaxis, and ornithogalum. Buds are always 

 seated on or proceed from the woody or vascular 

 tissue of the plant ; and those above-mentioned, 

 though not woody, contain vascular membrane 

 in their leaves, partaking of the nature of stems ; 

 these, therefore, when under favourable circum- 

 stances, or thrown out of their regular course 

 of developement by accident, exhibit those un- 

 common modes of reproduction. 



The other descriptions of flower-roots are the 

 tuberous and fibrous. Tubers, according to their 

 form and divisions, are characterised by different 

 appellations ; as irregular, truncated, digitated, 

 jointed, &c. 



The irregular tuber is exemplified in the ane- 

 mone. It increases itself by the protrusion of 

 blunt processes from the first seed-tubercle, 

 each containing buds which in time come into 

 action. The vital principle is not always seated 



