178 
SUCCULENT PLANTS. 
deviations from a common or even a more simple habitude. The same beautiful 
adaptation of parts, the same system of vascular distribution, of absorption, accre- 
tion, and respiration, which are observable in the other orders of vegetation, display 
themselves in succulent plants. There is nothing anomalous, nothing superfluous, 
nothing deficient. And the conclusion is unavoidable that, like myriads of other 
plants in which unique forms and habits are discernible, this astonishing dissimili- 
tude is intended partly to gratify man's invariable love of multiformity, and chiefly 
to adapt the difl^erent descriptions of vegetable being to the equally various, if not 
still more dissimilar, changes of clime and soil. 
The surprising suitability of the atmospheric and all other conditions in which 
plants are spontaneously generated to their actual appetences and necessities, as 
well as to those of the animals and human beings which are naturally located in 
the same districts, is a pleasing subject of investigation for all who rejoice in the 
discovery or contemplation of unmistakeable tokens of the Creator's benevolence. 
Happily, vegetation is enabled to exist in regions where circumstances really 
inimical are experienced for a time, and is susceptible of wonderful modification 
according to the media by which it is surrounded ; so that it is not positively 
destroyed by slightly detrimental agents : but it will ever be found most abundant 
and characteristic in certain localities. As an example of the above class, the 
adaptation of the structure and growth of succulents to the unusual features of the 
countries to which they are confined, is among the most interesting. 
Dispersed, for the most part, over extensive and arid wastes, or on dry moun- 
tain tracts, where scarcely any other sorts of plants could manage to sustain life, 
they flourish in unimpaired vigour ; furnishing the wild beasts of the desert with 
a refreshing and delicious food, or man with a juicy and luscious fruit, when water 
and herbage are not to be met with for many miles around : and this, let it be 
noted, despite the notorious scantiness of their roots, and their consequent inability 
to imbibe much moisture at any period. Paucity of root is, indeed, one of their 
leading characters, and some of them will retain their lively verdure with all the 
appearance of health for several years, though positively destitute of a single fibre. 
An examination into the manner in which they contrive to subsist for so long a 
time without a supply of fluids, — or, what is an analogous though less conspicuous 
case, how they maintain their luxuriance during the lengthened period of each 
year, in which they are subjected to the scorching rays of a torrid sun, without " 
any showers of rain to decrease its severity, and in an earth of which sand is the 
principal constituent, — would carry us too far into the depths of physiological 
research ; yet a trifling scrutiny cannot be otherwise than edifying. Notwithstand- 
ing that the fewness of their roots conveys the notion of an inadequate imbibition 
of moisture, silch is their astonishing capacity of retention, that a greater proportion 
of roots would be absolutely injurious, by causing supersaturation at certain epochs 
of their growth. It will be evident that we now refer to Cactaceous plants. 
Were they liberally furnislied with spreading roots and fibrous rootlets, the large 
