Prof. G. Gulliver on Raphides. 121 
tween 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 :—“Mucharidium grandiflorum, Godetia 
vinosa, Clarkia elegans, and C. pulchella: 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. Epilobium 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: yraphides 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 im 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 =,},;th 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 officinalis: 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. ] 
