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semifluid and pale protoplasm, in the midst of which lies the 
bundle of raphides ; the cell is frequently much elongated, 
and occasionally pointed at both ends, and regularly, but 
not always, differs in its shape and larger size from the 
neighbouring tissue-cells. Sometimes, especially in old parts 
of the plant, though the bundle of raphides is plainly seen 
in a space thus distinct, it is difficult or impossible to de- 
monstrate the existence of a proper cell-wall or other 
boundary than that which is formed by the outsides of a 
a number of the contiguous tissue-cells, and occasionally, 1 
as may be seen, in the pulp of ripe fruits and other such 
parts, the crystals occurred without any apparent cell or 
boundary- whatever. 
Thus, restricting the term raphides, there will be no like- 
lihood of applying it incorrectly. The greatest confusion 
has long since prevailed, and still prevails, from the loose 
application of this term to several different forms of plant- 
crystals. And with this understanding, let us proceed to 
notices of such raphis-bearing plants as are everywhere 
common. 
Raphides among our native Exogens are confined, as far 
as is at present known, to the three orders — Galiaceae, 
Balsaminacea?, and Onagracese. The raphides are small in 
Galiacea), larger and well seen in Onagracese, both British 
and foreign ; and as the Willow Herbs are plentiful in every 
ditch or road-side, and numbers of exotic species of this order 
are grown in the humblest gardens, while Balsams are fami- 
liar pets both in the cottage and greenhouse, some part or 
other of plants of these two orders are ever at hand for 
examination. The Evening Primrose answers the purpose 
very well ; so do Clarkia, Eucharidium, Godetia, and that 
pretty native species, the Enchanter’s Nightshade. The 
Fuchsias are great raphis-bearers, and good subjects for the 
examination of the raphides in the berry-pulp and in the 
ovule-coat and placenta, as figured by me on page 366 of the 
‘Annals of Natural History ’ for November, 1866. Of the 
Onagraceae, even, the seed-leaves during the genial season, 
and deep fragments of the stems and leaves, as well as parts 
still alive underground, in winter, may be easily known by 
their raphides from plants of other and closely allied 
orders. 
So, too, may the Marvel of Peru and the Mesembry-- 
anthemums, in which raphides are very plentiful, and by 
which character simply Mesembryanthemums may be also 
clearly distinguished from other thick-leaved plants. Indeed, 
I have long been in the habit of thus distinguishing Cras- 
VOL. IX. NEW SER. Q 
