64 
VEGETABLE STRUCTURE. 
The outer Bark of the Hellebore Root, therefore, covers it with all its 
Fibres, from the furface of the ground to their extremity, there rounding 
them without any breach or aperture, fo that when feparated from the 
reft, it may be compared to a glove, with numerous, long, and very flen- 
der fingers j but with no opening, except at the top. 
This is the original outer Bark of the Hellebore, which is confined to 
the Root ; but there is alfo a fecondary one, which covers the Flowering 
Stalk. This Stalk firft rifes without any outer Bark, the inner Rind of 
the Root being its natural covering. This is reprefented in the Figure 24 ; 
the inner part of the Root being left within the feparated outer Bark for 
that purpofe, e e e e. We fee here the green inner Rind making regular- 
ly the outermoft covering of the Stalk, the other terminating at b hav- 
ing covered that part of the Plant which was under ground : but the part 
f f, tho’ it rofe naked, does not continue fo : a new outer Bark is formed 
for it from its own extravafated Juices, hardened by the air; and this co- 
vering the two Films gg^ terminates there entirely. Thus there are pro- 
perly two outer barks of the Hellebore, formed for the protedion of the 
different parts of the Plant, and having their feparate terminations ; that 
of the original outer Bark being at the furface of the ground, that of the 
fecondary one at the upper Film of the Flowering Stalk. Thefe two Films 
originally fall over one another, and cover the Bud of the Flower j and 
thus the outer Bark, till the Flower opens, forms an entire covering for 
the Plant. 
CHAP. XV. 
The Construction of the Outer Bark. 
T T A V 1 N G feparated this outer covering of the Plant in a number of 
pieces, any one of thefe may be ufed for enquiring into the ftrudure 
of the part ; and there is little difference from whatever part it is taken, 
but it is moft perfed on the body of the Root : this was the original part, 
the Fibres, and the Flowering Stalks having been produced from it : there- 
fore in this it is beft to feek its fabrick there : and by tracing it regularly 
in this, and comparing it occafionally with the outer Bark of other Plants, 
we fhall not only difeover the ftrudure, but the ufes of the part. 
One 
