REJUVENESCENCE IN NATURE. Ill 



that the stem takes no part in the metamorphosis ; for it 

 is rather in the terminal prolongation of this, that the 

 gradual changes of purpose lying at the foundation of 

 the metamorphoses are prepared, to pass over from it 

 to the developing radii, so that the stem shows, more or 

 less strikingly according to the structure of the leaves, 

 the characters and functions of those leaf-formations of 

 which it constitutes the support. Thus we see the 

 lower stem colourless and devoid of stomates, like the 

 cataphyllary leaves ; the middle stem green, and furnished 

 with stomates, like the euphyllary leaves ; that part of the 

 floral axis which bears the carpels often developed even 

 into a fruit-structure {Fragarid). Thus stem and leaves 

 together form one whole, the ascending vegetation, in 

 which the metamorphosis is revealed, throwing out its 

 halting points in the leaves, and advancing, through the 

 medium of the stem, to further stages. 



Opposed to the ascending vegetation {PjIanzenwucJis), 

 as a whole, stands the root, without which the former 

 would be baseless. In the universal bond of nature all 

 the higher must rest upon the lower, grow forth within 

 and out of this, find its basis and seek the material for 

 its realisation in the lower realm, and thus as it were, 

 descend into and absorb the lower, which it is to over- 

 come. This necessary vital direction, first of all acting 

 in opposition to the true purpose, but in the sequel be- 

 coming again subservient to it, finds its representation 

 in the root. The root, as a downward growth, is produced 

 in contrast not merely to the stem, but to the whole 

 ascending growth of the plant; it originally follows 

 simply the attraction of gravitation in its growth, pene- 

 trating perpendicularly downwards, and is diverted into 



Juncus, which presents itself alone, in place of the euphyllary formation, 

 bearing only cataphyllary leaves at its base. The development of these 

 enormous leafless stem-summits deserves a closer investigation ; so far as I 

 could trace it, I found nothing vrhich could warrant the idea that these 

 green halms were leaves, in particular no sheath at their base. The smallest 

 and youngest that I could dissect out always appeared as elongated conical 

 points, and no other punc/um, vegetation,is could be distinguished. 



