INTRODUCTION. 9 



that from a broken leaf of the Lachenalea discolor^ 

 perfect bulbs were formed from the oozing sap ! 

 There are other instances of this generative 

 powerof plants, as exemplified in the Hcemanthus^ 

 the malaxis^ and ornithogalum. Buds are always 

 seated on or proceed from the woody or vascular 

 tissue of the plant ; and those above-mentioned, 

 though not woody, contain vascular membrane 

 in their leaves, partaking of the nature of stems ; 

 these, therefore, when under favourable circum- 

 stances, or thrown out of their regular course 

 of developement by accident, exhibit those un- 

 common modes of reproduction. 



The other descriptions of flower-roots are the 

 tuberous and fibrous. Tubers, according to their 

 form and divisions, are characterised by different 

 appellations ; as irregular, truncated, digitated, 

 jointed, &c. 



The irregular tuber is exemplified in the ane- 

 mone. It increases itself by the protrusion of 

 blunt processes from the first seed-tubercle, 

 each containing buds which in time come into 

 action. The vital principle is not always seated 



