Microscopical Researches/Description of Plates to do

by Matthias Jakob Schleiden

EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.

SCHLEIDEN’S TREATISE.

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PLATE I.

Fig. 1. Cellular tissue from the embryo-sac of Chamædorea Schiedeana in the act of formation. a. The innermost mass, consisting of gum with intermingled mucous granules and cytoblasts. b. Newly formed cells, still soluble in distilled water. c-e. Further development of the cells, which, with the exception of the cytoblasts, may still coalesce, under slight pressure, into an amorphous mass.

Fig. 2. The formative substance from fig. 1, a, more highly magnified, gum, mucous granules, nuclei of the cytoblasts, and cytoblasts.

Fig. 3. A single and as yet free cytoblast, still more highly magnified.

Fig. 4. A cytoblast with the cell forming upon it.

Fig. 5. The same, more highly magnified.

Fig. 6. The same. The cytoblast here exhibits two nuclei, and is delineated in

Fig. 7, isolated after the destruction of the cell by pressure.

Fig. 8. The same cellular tissue in a higher degree of development than that represented by fig. 1, e. The contiguous cell-walls have already united. By making a transverse section, it may be distinctly perceived that the cytoblast is enclosed in the cell-wall.

Fig. 9. Cells from a delicate transverse section of the almost matured albumen.

Fig. 10. Common partition-wall between two cells from fig. 9, under a higher magnifying power. “The stratiform depositions may be observed at b, and the porous canals produced by their local failure at a. I could distinctly enumerate from nine to twelve layers which had been deposited within fourteen days.

11. A sporule from Rhizina levigata Fries, with the cytoblast.

12, 13, 14. Different cytoblasts from the embryo-sac of Pimelea drupacea before the appearance of cells.

15. A young cell with its cytoblast, from the same. The latter in this instance presents the unusual number of three nucleoli.

16. A portion of the embryonal end of the pollen-tube projecting from the ovulum in Orchis Morio, within which, towards the upper part, cells have been already developed. At the lower part, the original pollen-tube may still be distinguished. The almost globular cytoblasts are, in this instance, distinctly enclosed in the cell-wall.

17. Embryonal end of the pollen-tube from Linum pallescens, together with an appended lobule of the embryo-sac (a). The process of the formation of cells is commencing. Above, a young cell with its cytoblast is already perceptible, beneath this several cell-nuclei are seen floating free.

18, 19, 20. Commencing germination in the sporules of Marchantia polymorpha. Compare the text, p. 248.

21. Portions of the pollen-tube which have become cellular, from Orchis latifolia, in the highest stage of development; the investment of the pollen-tube is no longer perceptible. The cytoblast is enclosed in the cell-wall, just as in fig. 16.

22 and 23. Two isolated cells from the terminal shoot (punctum vegetationis, Wolff) of Gasteria racemosa; 22 exhibits two free cytoblasts; 23, two newly-formed cells within the original cell.

Fig. 24. A very young leaf of Crassula portulaca, the five cells which solely compose it being still surrounded by a parent-cell.

25. Three cells from an articulated hair of potato, with a retiform current of mucus upon their walls. the central cell the direction of the currents is partially indicated by arrows.

In all the instances in which I have observed the movements in the cells of phænogamous plants, I have constantly found the moving matter to consist of a yellowish mucous fluid, perfectly insoluble in distilled water, and mixed with minute black granules, but differing entirely from the other aqueous sap of the cells; and even when the currents were so small as to appear merely as excessively minute delicate lines of black points, I succeeded with higher magnifying powers in distinguishing the yellowish mucous fluid, especially when aided by the favorable circumstance (which not unfrequently occurs) of the current becoming arrested by some impediment, which causes a somewhat larger quantity of the moving material to accumulate, and is generally followed either by a change in the direction, or a division of the current.

PLATE II.

Fig. 1. Cells from the epidermis of the pericarp of Ocymum basilicum, moistened with water, so that the mucous globule has expanded, and torn the outer cell-wall (a) from the side walls (b).

2. Cells from the pericarp of the epidermis of Ziziphora dasyantha.

3. Cells from the pericarp of the epidermis of Salvia verticillata.

4. Cells from the pericarp of the epidermis of Salvia Horminum.

5. Cells from the pericarp of the epidermis of Salvia Spielmanni.

2, 3, 4 and 5, a, exhibit the remains of the side-walls of the ruptured cells.

6. A portion of the epidermis (a) and of the integument (b) of the ovule of Collomia coccinea. The epidermis-cells contain merely granules of starch.

Fig. 7. The epidermis-cells of the half-ripe seed of the same plant, for the most part containing gum; at a, some still undecomposed starch.

8. The same cells from the same seed nearly ripe. Beautiful spiral fibres have been formed from the contents, which are entirely consumed.

9. Cells of the epidermis of the seed of Leptosiphon androsaceum, moistened with water, so that the cone of jelly has come forth. a. The remains of the cell-walls.

10. Cells from the epidermis of the seed of Hydrocharis Morsus ranæ. In the lower part of the cells, where they are connected together, the spiral coils take a direction different from that in the upper and free part.

For the figures in Plate II consult the text, pp. 243-6.

THE END.

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C. AND J. ADLARD, PRINTERS,
BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE.