30 Prof. Bailey on the Crystals found in Plants. 



conclusion, that these bunches are generally, if not always com- 

 posed of monociinate forms, referable to forms A or B. The 

 bunches, so abundant in the Turkey rhubarb, {Rheum pnlma- 

 tum.) have been repeatedly analyzed and found to be composed 

 of oxalate of lime. In examinations of these bunches in other 

 plants, as in Salisburia adiantifolia, Nelumbiurn luteum, &c.j I 

 have found that they always left insoluble carbonate of lime on 

 ignition, showing them to be compounds of lime with an or- 

 ganic acid, and in the micro-chemical experiments, where the 

 salts were decomposed by dilute sulphuric acid, the solution 

 evaporated on glass, left crystals of sulphate of lime, mingled 

 with others having the form and properties of oxalic acid. 



We may conclude then, both from the crystal lographic and 

 chemical examinations, that these bunches are generally aggre- 

 gates of simple crystals, of the same form and composition as 

 forms A and B. It follows then, from the above mentioned re- 

 sults, that in a very great majority of dicotyledonous plants, oxa- 

 late of lime in more or less regular crystalline forms may be 

 found, and frequently in great quantity.* 



To those who do not properly appreciate the infinitesimal forces 

 of nature, and who do not consider that some of the grandest 

 natural phenomena result from their action, the fact thus estab- 

 lished with regard to the minute crystals in plants, may appear 

 of trifling importance. It is true these crystals are minute ; so 

 minute that in many trees, as the poplar, locust, willow, &c., 

 they do not exceed raVo^h of an inch in length, yet what they 

 want in size they make up in number, and when we come to 

 integrate these infinitesimals, we find that the number contained 

 in a single square inch of a layer of the liber not thicker than a 

 piece of writing paper, is at least a million. (See fig. 3.) 



When we now reflect upon the number of such layers contain- 

 ed in the thickness of the bark, and the number of square inches 

 given by the surface of a large tree, including all its branches, 

 and then consider, that in addition to all this, the amount of crys- 

 tals in the leaves, wood, and roots, is to be taken into account, we 

 find that the number of crystals in a single tree, is enormous, 

 beyond all conception. Yet the greater number of the trees in 



* Qnekett has succeeded in forming the conglomerate raphides of oxalate of 

 lime, by artificial processes, by saturating the cells of rice paper 'Mschynomenc 

 aspera?) with lime water, and then immersing it in dilute oxalic acid. See Q,ue- 

 kelt on Raphides in Lindley's Botany. 



