1883. ] Botany. 785 
examined under a compound microscope, are found to be studded 
all over with fine projecting points, which give them a very neat 
appearance.— F. B. Ellis, Newfield, N. F. 
_ ANALYSIS OF VEGETABLE Tıssues.—Frémy classifies the con- 
stituents of vegetable tissues as follows, the characters being 
derived from their chemical constitution (Ann. Sci. Nat. xu, 
1882) : 
1. Cellulose Substances——In this group are included all those 
constituents of vegetable tissues which dissolve without coloring 
in bi-hydrated sulphuric acid, producing dextrine and sugar; which 
are not sensibly altered by alkaline solvents, and which resist for 
a long time the action of energetic oxidizers. Schwitzer’s reagent 
(ammoniacal copper oxide) enables at least the three following 
varieties to be distinguished : 
(a) Cellulose—Dissolves immediately in the copper reagent. This 
constitutes the larger part of cotton hairs and of the utric- 
ular tissues of certain fruits. 
(4) Paracellulose—Dissolves in the copper reagent only after the 
addition of an acid. This constitutes the utricular tissue of 
certain roots, and the epidermal cells of leaves. 
(c) Metacellulose.—Insoluble in the copper reagent even after the 
addition of acids. It occurs principally in the tissue of 
fungi and lichens, and is the “ fungine” of Braconnot. 
2. Vasculose—This is the substance which enters most largely 
cells and the fibers. It sometimes occurs on the exterior of tis- 
Sues in the form of a continuous, resisting and horny membrane. 
It forms, in fact, the solid part of woody tissues ; it is abundant 
in hard woods, and in the sclerenchymatous concretions in pears ; 
the shells of nuts and the stones of stone-fruit often consist of 
this substance to more than half of their weight. Vasculose is 
insoluble in bi-hydrated sulphuric acid, and in the copper reagent; 
it does not dissolve sensibly at the ordinary pressure in alkaline 
Solvents, but only with the assistance of pressure. This import- 
. 
d, or Schweitzer’s reagent. If, on the other hand, these sub- 
Stances have to be freed from vasculose, the tissue is subjected 
for several hours to the action of nitric acid diluted with its vol- 
