SUCCULENT PLANTS. 
J 79 
quantity of fluids which such would necessarily absorb, would render a free circula- 
tion and abundant means of escape indispensable : and the possession of these would 
entail the inevitable destruction of the plants when their fluid resources in the earth 
failed. It would thus be quite impossible for them to survive a single summer. 
One of the most observable reasons why Cactacege require few roots, and have a 
very languid circulation, or barely any flow of fluids at some seasons, is the general 
absence of foliage. In all the spherical-shaped sorts, and those having solitary 
erect stems with little or no disposition to branch, and numberless clusters of 
aculei, botanists inform us that in the rudimentary state of these latter, a quantity 
of minute leaves can be detected amongst them, which decay and fall before the 
spines are perceptible. And this is farther demonstrated by the fact that each 
bundle of spines is a literal bud, with the power of developing itself, when assisted 
by accident or design, into a stem exactly the counterpart of that which gave it 
birth. The Epiphyllous species, again, although they might be supposed by the 
uninitiated to have an abundance of spacious foliage, are really wholly without 
this organ ; the compressed green expansions which they so prominently display 
being undoubted stems. 
From this lack of foliage, such is the ample and admirable provision of Nature, 
no detriment accrues. The extensive superficies of the stems, copiously covered 
with pores for evaporation, fully supplies the place of leaves ; and, what is more 
worthy of notice, these pores are almost entirely closed as each year's enlargement 
of the stem becomes perfect, thus performing their appointed offices while growth 
is in progress and exhalations are needful, but nearly ceasing their operation 
throughout the time of torpidity, when the excessive heat would, through their 
instrumentality, drain the plant of all its fluids. During the hot and arid parts 
of the year, which are the winters of tropical vegetation, the action of exterior 
elements on Cacti is suspended in a similar way, though not precisely by the same 
means, as in Orchidacess ; the former having their cuticle hardened and its pores 
shut up, while Orchidaceous plants are deprived of their leaves or the parts on 
which alone any stomates are situated. It has been a subject of discussion 
whether succulents have not an infinitely less number of pores than other plants ; 
but Dr. Lindley, who evidently speaks from personal observation, affirms that 
" in succulent parts they are neither rare nor wholly wanting, as has been 
constantly asserted, but are, on the contrary, as numerous as on many other 
parts." If it be thought that this has no immediate reference to the subjects of 
our article, the reader may be directed to the succeeding page (44) of that gentle- 
man's Introduction to Botany, where, in a tabular view of the comparative quantity 
of stomates on the same extent of surface of thirty-seven different plants, that of 
several well-known succulents will be seen to exceed many more woody species. 
Nevertheless, we believe it will be found, as already hinted, that fewer pores 
reside on the matured portions ; and that the specimens cultivated in this country, 
being constantly supplied with water, and kept in a condition of continual excite- 
