Doncaster Microscopical Society
The 9th ordinary Meeting of the above society was held on Wednesday evening last, , the Rev. Canon Brock (president) in the chair.
Eleven Members were present
The Rev. W. Smith read a paper on the “Cellular tissue of plants”
Mr. Smith stated that owing to the very wide range of the subject, he should confine himself to noticing a few of the more general forms of cells and their distribution.
It was estimated that nearly half of the vegetable kingdom, comprising lichens, fungi, and algae consisted of cellular tissue only. Of the remainder, the principal part of mosses, and of leaves, pith, bark and seeds were composed mainly of cellular tissue. In the earlier periods of the earth’s history, cellular plants comprised by far the greater part of vegetation.
The growth and multiplication of cells were explained, and the chief varieties alluded to, sketches of many of the more interesting forms being exhibited, and the plants furnishing them, enumerated.
The paper was also illustrated by a number of carefully mounted preparations of different tissues, these lending additional interest to the subject.
A vote of thanks to Mr. Smith was proposed by the chairman, and seconded by Mr. Walker.
The next conversational meeting will be on April 6th.
[Doncaster, Nottingham & Lincoln Gazette, 18 March 1881]