LETTER XI. 



119 



them, separate spontaneously from plants, and form indepen- 

 dent individnals. This latter phenomenon occurs in Bryo- 

 phyllum^ Pinguicula^ Malaxis^ viviparous plants, and in the 

 bulbils of Lilium hulhiferum^ and Dentaria hulbifera. In all 

 this there is a remarkable analogy with what occurs in Com- 

 pound Polyps. In Sertularian Polyps, there are numerous 

 separate individuals united on a common stock, each having 

 a certain inherent vitality, and yet all depending on the general 

 life of the compound zoophyte." 



16. All this, you will perceive, is, with one single 

 exception, in perfect harmony with what I have 

 myself urged as the right view to be taken of the 

 nature of trees. The exception is this : Professor 

 Balfour, or perhaps I should say M. Gaudichaud (for 

 Dr B. does not seem to identify himself with the views 

 of the latter), says of the huds of trees, that while each 

 has an independent vitality," they are all, as united 

 on the " common axis," which constitutes the tree, 



dependent on the life of this axis for their continued 

 growth and vigour,'' And he makes a like observa- 

 tion regarding the individuals composing the compound 

 animal zoophyte. How the fact may be as regards 

 the zoophyte, I am not prepared to say. But I demur 

 to his statement as regards the tree. I have through- 

 out alleged, not merely that each bud, and each plant 

 issuing from this bud, is independent of every other 

 of its fellows : but that the axis " on which thev 

 vegetate and grow — and that parasitically — is made 

 up of the dead organic remains of the plants of former 



