Misceli. Subj. CXI. Fol. ri. No. 65. 



MICROSCOPIC REPRESENTATION OF THE STRUCTURE 



OF THE THISTLE - PITH. 



How great and admirable does not appear 

 the wisdom of the Creator in the meanest plant 

 itself, when we behold it magnified by 

 means of the microscope. The simple crofs 

 cut (A.) through a common welted thistle 

 (Carduus acanthoides) shows magnifie'd (B.) 

 the most artificial composition of its shape. 

 The interior pith consists of a texture of nice 

 hexagonal cells, through which the sap of 

 nourishment rises and distributes itself. In 

 the midst a great opening pervades the whole 

 stalk, which increases with the age, when 



the pith by drying up withdraws itself still 

 more and more. The cellular pith is sur- 

 rounded , as with a ring , with the proper 

 stalk of plant, which shows , when cutted 

 through , many round larger and lesser ope- 

 nings for the circulation of the sap. Exter- 

 nally we see the magnifie'd hairs of the exte- 

 rior stalk of the thistle, like tassels hanging 

 down, which likewise attract from without 

 the moisture, and thus help to nourish the 

 plant. 



