§ HEDWIG ON THE ORGANS 0% 



distinctly under the microscope, or not at all. To 

 avoid this, I put, with the handle of a small dis- 

 secting knife, two or three dror. s of clear water 

 upon the glass-slider, in which 1 immersed the 

 portion of membrane. When treated thus, the 

 whole appears distinct, and in its natural state; 

 ducts or vessels are perceived communicating with 

 rings, or squares ; and in the middle of each of 

 the latter, an aperture, or dark line. 



These ducts, which I shall call the lymphatic 

 vessels of the cuticle, are constantly met with in 

 the epidermis both of the upper and lower sur-_ 

 faces ; nor are those of the other parts of the 

 plants entirely without them. 



Their direction, which is not the same in every 

 plant, is usually very different from that pursued 

 by the vessels of the net in the leaves. In some 

 plants they run directly upwards, and communicate 

 by means of transverse ducts ; particularly in the 

 grasses and bulbous plants. (PI. I. Fig. 5.) In 

 Indian Wheat (Zea Mays), the ascending ducts 

 are slightly serpentine, and the communicating 

 horizontal ones, straight, (lb. Fig. 6.) The cuticle 



