HE NF RETS BOTANY. 75 



would suffice to convince any observer that the radicle is simply 

 the first internode of the stem, giving birth to the primary root 

 from its inferior extremity, usually, — and indeed, from the 

 exceptional cases where it does not we should draw additional 

 proof of its cauline nature. In fact, we know of no char- 

 acter in which a root differs from an internode of a stem in 

 which it does not also differ from the radicle, excepting its 

 tendency to direct its inferior extremity downwards. Again, 

 should the statement, that " the radicle of a monocotyledonous 

 embryo is never developed " be held to mean that the radicle 

 never lengthens, we remark, no more does it in the Pea and 

 some other hypogaeous Dicotyledons ; and we are not quite 

 sure that the statement is absolutely true of all Monocoty- 

 ledons. 



Root-hairs or fibrillm are mentioned (p. 19) as "often" 

 occurring on young roots. Do they not always occur ? Surely 

 it cannot be true that : " the branches of the axial root are 

 originally growths from the apex of the root thrown off to 

 the side," (p. 538). By some slip of the pen, Myrica Gale 

 is adduced as an instance of whorled leaves (p. 45). 



On p. 49 the expression " over the petiole," instead of 

 above or within it, would lead to a misconception. 



Something more might be said about the tendrils of Cucur- 

 bitacece (which, besides, are not always single) ; but are the 

 students of King's College really taught that, " tendrils of 

 the vine are metamorphosed flowering branches arising in the 

 axils of the leaves " ? (p. 62.) 



" In all seeds except in those of the few orders which 

 present an incomplete or acotyledonous embryo, we do not 

 find the young plant possessed ... of a plumule " (p. 66). 

 Even some much developed embryos, such as those of Maple 

 and Morning Glory, do not show the plumule until after the 

 full development of the cotyledons. It may be said, indeed, 

 that the plumule is in posse when not in esse, but so it is no 

 less in the cases excepted from the statement. 



Very singular is the statement (on p. 68) that in England 

 " the terminal bud of the Lilac is generally killed by the 

 frost in the winter ; " since in our much colder winter it is as 



