VEGETABLE STRUCTURE. 83 
CHAP. XX. 
Of the Vascular Series. 
H E fourth fubftance of the Plant, whofe thinnefs had occafioned its 
being hitherto overlooked, is the Vafcular Series. This, in the Hel- 
lebore and moft other fpecies, is a fingle courfe of Velfels, lodged between 
two Membranes ; a flight view of which we have given at Fig. 53, Letter 
b j and a more difliindl one at 57, and the fucceding Figures. 
Whatever part of the Plant we examine, excepting the Footfl:alks of 
the Leaves, we find this fubftance. It lies clofe upon the Flefh every where, 
and feems prelTed between that and the Blea. Its courfe in the entire Plant 
is reprefented at Fig 57. We are to confider the objedl of this Figure as 
the fame Plant of Hellebore with which we began : that Is, a fingle Root 
tome from the entire Clufler, reprefented Plate I. with an afcending 
flowering Stalk and one Fibre. This we reprefented fplit in Plate II. Fig. 
24, with the outer Bark thrown off: in Plate III. the inner Rind is fepa- 
rated in the fame manner; and has taken with it the two cuter Petals : in 
Plate IV. Fig. 50. the fame Plant is flripped of its Blea, which takes with 
it the three inner Petals ; fo that in the prefent Figure 57, the Plant Is re- 
duced to the covering of the Vafcular Series, which is here reprefented as 
laid back from the Flefh j and the afcending Stalk cut off within it, to 
prevent confufion. 
Thus we can trace the courfe of t!)Is Angular part of the Vegetable 
Strudiure entire. If we follow it from a, in the body of the Root, down- 
wards, we find it coating the Flefli of the Fibres at b b, returning round 
their ends at c c ; and having afcended over the whole body of the Root, 
proceeding upwards in a continued fubftance to coat the Flefli of the Stalk 
at ^ ; and finally terminating in the Flower ; there forming thofe w'onder- 
ful bodies the Nedaria. This is its place, and this its courfe in the en- 
tire Plant. Its office is to feed thofe tubular bodies In which it terminates ; 
we fee nothing of it in the Footflalks of the Leaves, becaufe no fuch bodies 
are to be found, except in the Flower. 
M 2 
CHAP. 
