FLOWERS. 43 



from its roots in the earth, and cannot injure any 

 tree. 



The form of tendrils l , another sort of claspers, is 

 very various, heing simple in the passion flower 2 , and 

 branched in the pea 3 . The tendril sometimes rises 

 from the inner base of a leaf, and sometimes from its 

 tip 4 , as may be seen in the vine, traveller's joy, vetches, 

 and numerous other climbing plants. These are evi- 

 dently produced by the lengthening of the midrib of 

 the leaf. 



FLOWERS. 



As it will be necessary to consider flowers afterwards 

 under the head of " Reproductive Organs," I shall, in 

 noticing them here as members, attend only to their 

 outward form, beginning at their origin from a stem or 

 branch, and proceeding upwards. 



According to the partially fashionable, but wildly 

 absurd theory lately introduced, first, if I mistake not, 

 by the German poet, Goethe, a complete flower is 

 represented to be the union of four whorls of leaves 

 variously modified. In the same vein, Von Martius, 

 of Munich, announces as a profound discovery that a 

 plant is nothing but a leaf which has made a determi- 

 nate number of revolutions, and hence all leaves ought 

 by theory to grow alternately ; but it being found that 

 many leaves do not grow alternately, but one opposite 



(1) In Latin, Cirri. 

 (2) See the figure, page 55. 

 (3) See the figure, page 29, Nos. 5 and 8. 

 (4) See the figure, page 31, No. 6. 



