212 Prof. G. Gulliver on Raphides. 
XXV.—Observations on Raphides. 
By Grorce GuLuiver, F.R.S. 
[Continued from p. 121.} 
Historical Notice of Raphides as Natural Characters.—All the 
microscopic crystals of plants have been too commonly in- 
cluded under the name of raphides, and true raphides have long 
been known in the different classes of Phanerogamia. Thus it 
is stated, either in our most comprehensive botanical treatises 
or special essays, that raphides abound in such Dicotyledones as 
Urticacese, Cactaceze, Geraniacez, and the roots of Umbellifere, 
and in “ Monocotyledones generally,” of which Aracez and the 
“sepals of Orchidacez” are cited as particular examples; while 
even Schleiden asserts that the needle-formed crystals, in bundles 
of from twenty to thirty in a single cell, are present in almost all 
plants, and that inorganic crystals are seldom met with in cells in 
a full state of vitality. Hence such a vague impression has arisen 
that raphides occur either with much frequency and irregularity, 
or in connexion with the decay of the plant, that the attamment of 
the truth becomes hopeless without a careful attention to the con- 
text in books and a more earnest appeal to the reality in nature 
than has yet been made. Notwithstanding the detached drawings 
and descriptions of raphides among pollen and other parts of some 
plants, from the time of the artist Bauer to the recent analysis 
of the raphides in the ovary of Richardia by Maclagan, even the 
fact (often shown in the course of the present observations) of 
the constancy and universality of raphides through the greater 
part of the healthy frame, from the seed-leaves and young buds 
to the ovule and ripe fruit, of certain species has not been recog- 
nized in our botanical treatises. No wonder, then, that the value 
of raphides as natural characters has never been realized, and 
that we find them neglected, both in the short diagnoses and 
longer descriptions, in the latest systematic works of such 
eminent botanists as Lindley, the Hookers, Balfour, Babington, 
and others. But it may be hoped that more general attention 
will soon be given to the subject; for it is so very extensive 
that I have been able to do little more than show its importance. 
Recurring to the orders above mentioned, quoted by authors 
as affording raphides, if we examine such given specific exam- 
ples as may be seen in the last edition of the excellent ‘ Micro- 
graphic Dictionary,’ we shall soon learn that in the two latter 
orders only are true raphides shown, and spheraphides merely 
in the other orders. Thus one source of ambiguity will be dis- 
pelled, while we realize a regular and characteristic difference 
between the plants in question, shown by those very crystals 
which have all been included under the same name. And we 
shall soon see more light by the assistance of nature. 
