NAMED RArPLESIA. 377
To the foregoing description of Tlafjlcsia it is necessary to add some observations explanatory of structure; and I sliall also offer a few conjectures on certain points of the economy of the plant, and on its affinities.
The great apparent simj)licity in the internal structure of every part, especially in a flower of such enormous size, is in the first i)lace deserving of notice.
Tliis observation particularly ap])lies to the Column, which is found to consist of a uniform cellular texture, with a very small proportion of vessels. The cells or utriculi are [-^lo nearly spha^rical, slightly angular from mutual pressure, and, in the specimens examined at least, easily separal)le from each other without laceration. I have not been able to detect ])erforations on any part of their surface ; but extremely minute granules, originally contained in great abundance in the cells, and frequently found adhering to their parietes, may readily be mistaken for pores.
The structure of vessels either in the column, perianthium or bracteae, in all of which they are apparently similar, has not been satisfactorily ascertained. They may be supposed to approach most nearly to the ligneous, though certainly unaccompanied by spiral vessels, which do not appear to exist in any ])art of the plant.
The same internal structure is continued b(?lowthe origin of the bracteac, down to the line at which the vessels of the root appear to terminate, and where an evident change takes place (y«/^ 18 (20) and 20 (22),/ 1).
The PerianiJdum and Bractece in their cellular texture very nearly agree with the column, except that in their more foliaceous parts the cells are considerably elongated.
I have not found in any part of their suiface, or in that of the column, those areolae universally considered as cuti- cular pores, and which, though of very general occurrence, do not perhaps exist in the imperfectly developed leaves of plants parasitic on roots.
In the external composition of the colunm, the part most deserving of attention is the Antliera ; for in apparent origin, as well as in form and structure, it presents the
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