CABUL, 



357 



There can be little dout but that the reproductive organ, 

 represents a joint of the stem, as it consists of a central tube, 

 5 external ones spirally twisted at a very early period, and 

 5 small cells, terminating these, for in all parts, the deve- 

 lopement appears to be reversed, the uppermost fruits of each 

 whorl being the earliest developed. The nucules are axil- 

 lary, the suffulting cell being rudimentary, an semper, at an 

 early period, the central tube contains nothing but grumons 

 matter. Soon after, it present but little difference except in 

 size and colour from the mature one. In one instance I 

 thought I perceived primary globules in the centre of the 

 grumous matter. The young reproductive organs are reddish, 

 the number 5 is constant, the branches about them are also 

 often reddish. 



The whorls of the axis are approximated, and sometimes 

 perhaps irregular, the cells are much more numerous than 

 those on the branches, but generally smaller, they have not 

 the same attachment, I think, but arise from small cells ter- 

 minating the long ones. 



I do not think that in the divisions of the axis, any ana- 

 logy can hold with Pha3nogams ? Analogies certainly exist in 

 the constantly quinary number of the spiral and terminal 

 cells, and in the whole appearance of the organ, which is a 

 good deal like an inferior Phaenogamous dicotyledonous fruit. 



I have seen nothing like the globules, and this constitutes 

 its singularity, together with the tubes being filled with green 

 matter, in such a way, that circulation scarcely seems likely, 

 except in the central tube, or in the lateral ones after the dis- 

 appearance of the green matter. 



The plant is a mysterious one, but the ferules ? approach 

 more toward the nature of gemmaceous organs than the re- 

 productive organs of other acrogens. The germination if I re- 

 member right diflfers in no respect from that of the axis, 

 the chief peculiarity being the emission of radicles. The amy 

 laceous granules are more compatible with the nature of 

 buds than reproductive e sexubus organs. But after all, na- 

 ture may wish to shew us perhaps the maximum amount of a 

 developement analogous to that of Phaenogams, and so conti- 



