158 APPENDAGES OF THE STEM. 



young* luxuriant shoots of the vine, small transparent 

 bodies like vesicles decorate the stem, petioles", and 

 tendrils. They are slightly attached to the cuticle ; 

 but what their use may be in vegetable economy is 

 not apparent. They are, however, evidently of a 

 glandular character, and of the same nature as the 

 icicle garniture of Mesembryanthemum cry stall* - 

 num, and of what is called bloom on many kinds of 

 plants. 



Exudations. Besides the accidental flow of sap 

 from wounds, there are several instances of natural 

 discharges which may be noticed. The buds of most 

 of the Pinus genus are covered, during winter, by a 

 coat of pure resin, which is exuded from the hyber- 

 nacula. Those of the Pbpulus balsamifera are 

 shielded by a fragrant gum. Honey-dew has been 

 considered as a discharge from the leaves and stem ; 

 but as this is never seen unaccompanied by the 

 Aphides, it is probably emitted by those insects. The 

 fluid oozing from the naked stigma is no less remark- 

 able than is the real honey secreted in the bottom of 

 the corolla. Both are elaborated and secreted by the 

 flower, and, as well as being necessary as food for 

 numerous insects, furnish for the use of man one 

 of the purest and most luscious of vegetable extracts. 

 A curious distillation of water is preserved by the 

 Limnocliaris Plumieri, which, from a tube occupy- 

 ing the middle rib of each leaf, discharges pure 

 water in frequent drops from an orifice at the apex. 

 Being an aquatic, it would appear that the plant is 



