Such peculiarities are the various forms of leaves, their 

 manner of insertion, ridges and furrows formed by the 

 nerves, hairs on the leaf edges, hair clusters where the 

 nerves intersect, the character of the epidermis and the 

 anatomical structure of the leaf ami petiole. All these 

 are considered in reference to their fitness to catch the 

 rain drops, lead them to other parts of the plant, hold 

 them in such localities where they can be most easily 

 used and there absorbed. 



In an article by H. W. F. Schimper published in 

 the Botanical Central-Blatt No. 6 1884 entitled „Bau 

 und Lebensweise der Epiphyten West-Indiens" the author 

 gives an account of the various forms of these plants 

 and describes the manner in which the basal cell of the 

 hair scale probably aids in drawing in water out of the 

 atmosphere from which source the plant receives its 

 nourishment. Various experiments were tried in proof 

 of this supposition, the resistance of the membrane to 

 the passage of the water tested &c. The result of these 

 observations shows that the living cells at the base of 

 the hair scales have the same physiological meaning as 

 the hairs of the rootlets of ordinary land plants. 



In a short sketch entitled „Zur Flora der agyptisch- 

 arabischen Wttste" in the Sitzungsberichte der koniglich 

 preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin VI 

 1886 28 th Jan. presented by Dr. Georg Volkens, the 

 author refers to the question of plants absorbing water 

 from the air, but only to mention several examples from 

 the Aegyptian Flora which appear to favor this pro- 

 bability. The only one of interest in this connection is 

 that of Diplotaxis Harra which he describes as possessing 

 long, single-celled, thick-walled hairs, whose bases 



