Prof. G. Gulliver on Raphides. 121 



twecn the 13th and 31st of December last, and of which every 

 species had been proved by my former observations regularly to 

 abound in raphides during the genial months. The following 

 extracts from my note-book will be sufficient examples of several 

 others to the same effect : — "Eucharidium grandiflorum, Godetia 

 vinosa, Clarkia elegans, and C, jndchella : raphides abundant in 

 the seed-leaves and other parts of young plants, also in the roots 

 and dead and living leaves and branches and capsule-valves of 

 exhausted and decaying plants. Epilohium hirsutum and two 

 other common species : raphides very abundant in the roots, in 

 the dead stems and pith, in the dead leaves and capsules, and 

 in the small living buds of the subterranean stems. Asperula 

 odorata : raphides in root and its fibrils, and in living and 

 dead stems and leaves; the root very rich in starch-cells full of 

 granules. Galium Aparine (young growing seedlings) : raphides 

 small and tender throughout the plant, more abundant in the 

 seed-leaves, least so in the fibrous root; plentiful also, with 

 dotted vessels, in the dead, withered stems of old plants of last 

 season. Galium Mollugo : a few raphides in the dry fruit, and 

 bundles of them swarming in the liber of the creeping woody 

 root, but less abundant in its fibrils and in the young shoots 

 and leaves; the raphides in the old root larger and stronger 

 than those in the leaves and stem of the young shoots ; central 

 part of root chiefly made up of dotted vessels, the dots thickly 

 studded, about , .^ ', ou ^h of an inch in diameter, and without the 

 least appearance of their being the remains of annular stripes; 

 no starch in the root. Tamus communis : raphides abounding 

 in the root and its buds, and in the pulp of the berry ; root 

 chiefly made up of starch. Asparagus ojjUcinalis : raphides 

 plentiful in the root. Lemna minor : raphides numerous." 



In short, my observations generally are to the effect that, when- 

 ever raphides afford a diagnostic, as I have proved they often do, it 

 is more fundamental and universal than any other single one yet 

 employed in botanical classification : fundamental, because it is 

 an essential part of the nature of the plant from its very birth ; 

 universal, because this character is so widely diffused that it will 

 be found, as above described, throughout the general system, 

 and during the whole life and after the death of that plant. 

 Thus, at any or every season and state of growth, either a 

 young fresh seed-leaf or a bit of a living or dead leaf or stem, 

 or root or berry-pulp, may be sufficient for the diagnosis in 

 question, between plants of two closely allied orders. 



Edenbridge, January 1864. 



[To be continued.] 



