290 



PHILOSOPHICAL NOTES ON 



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Fig. 121. Carpel of JDrosera intermedia. 

 Intitead of ovules the siiiface was 

 covered with glandular hairs. 



Fig. 122. Glandular hair of 



Drosera reverted to leaf havinf^ 



ordinary hairs on its edges, and 



two glandular hairs. 



Fiff. 123. Glandular hair of Drosera reverted to a branch with leaf-buds. 



From these'reversions it would appear that glandular hairs and 

 ovules and branches are interchangeable, and so are glandular 

 hairs interchangeable with ordinary simple hairs. 



Why need we wonder that this should ])e so ? According to 

 Weismann, every vegetative cell was originally also a repioduc- 

 tive cell, the latter function having been retained in some, while 

 it aborted in others. It will not follow, however, that, under 

 certain circumstances, the vegetative cell will not become poten- 

 tially reproductive. It may be true that the tentacles of Drosera 

 issue from branches arising from the fibro-vascular cords of the 

 leaf. But the distinction given between these and trichomes may 

 be owing to the undue stress we lay on fibro-vascidar cords. 

 Surely in cellular plants circulation of plant blood takes place 



