84 ' 
VEGETABLE 
STRUCTURE. 
CHAP. XXI. 
The Construction of the Vascular Series.. 
E have examined complex objedts hitherto : this is extremely fim- 
^ ^ pie. When we view it in a tranfverfe fediion of any part of the 
Plant, it Icarce appears unlefs to the great magnifiers ; and then as a dot- 
red line only, furrounding the bled), and feparating it from the Bit a. See 
Plate ill. Pig. 25, a. But the other coats of the Plant being taken od* oy 
maceration, it is eafy to raife and loofen fmall pieces of this. A 'at tijus 
feparated, wafhed clean, and laid in water before the Microfcope, appears 
to the common magnifying powers only as a yellowifh fkin, with feveral 
green cords running up it. See Plate V. Fig. 58. To fhew its d.utlture 
better, we mufl ufe greater powers j and treat this as the other parts, by 
brulhing it in Water, to get the coats afunder. 
A PIECE of this Vafcular Series taken from the Flowering Stalk of 
Hellebore, near the ground, and examined with this attention, fliews pertcdl- 
ly the llrudture of the part. The Veflels are found to be lodged between 
two yellovviih Membranes j and we fee in many places thofe little oval Vef- 
fels whicli unite the fubflance and the Blea with it; and eifewhere the 
marks of them, and the perforations of the Membrane thro’ which they 
had pafled. A piece thus magnified, appears to the great magnifiers, as 
Fig. 59, where a reprefents the outer Membrane, b the inner Membrane, 
andc the Vefiels themfelves between. 
These Vefiels are very differently difpofed from thofe of the red of the 
Plant ; they are large, tolerably draight in their courfe, and, fo far as I 
have yet feen, have no communication whatfoever one with the other. 
They are fo ffrong that they are more eafily feparated from their Mem- 
branes than any others; and J have fometimes been fo happy to remove 
them clean from them, as at Fig. 60, u ith the Veficles of communica- 
tion yet adhering to them. One of thofe Veficles is reprefented feparate 
at 61, with the manner of its joining the Vefiels of this Series. 
We have obferved, that thefe Vefiels terminate in the Neftaria of the 
Flower; and it is not impoflible to trace them thither; though in their 
courfe through the Receptacle of the Flower, winch is that flefiiy head 
from which thefe and the Filaments rife, they are much lefs diftind than 
eifewhere. The firft particularity that occurs, is, that thefe Nedtaria are 
3 only 
