VASCULAR TISSUE, in botany, that kind of vegetable tissue which is composed of closed tubes or vessels, elongated cells. The tubes have membranous walls of cellulose (q.v.), and within them are juices of the plant, which often deposit secretions. They are generally almost cylindrical—although sometimes prismatical from compression— except that they taper to a point at each extremity, preserving their character as cells by being closed at the extremities. They lie.close together in bundles, and often overlie one another at time ends. The principal kinds of vascular tissue are woody fiber (q.v.) and laticiferous tissue, composed of the vessels which convey the latex (q.v.). Laticiferous tissue is generally composed of branched and anastomosing tubes, the walls of which are thin and delicate, extremely so in young plants. Many varieties of vascular tissue have, however, been distinguished by botanists, of which the most important are those classed under the name of tissue, having spiral fibers in the tubes, winding up the of their walls as if to strengthen them. These fibers are elastic, and the coil can often be easily unrolled, at least while the tubes are young. Many fibers are often found in a single tube.
VASE (Lat. gas, Ger. foss), a term applied, in its widest signification, to all vessels adapted either for ornament or use. It is generally used in this sense with reference to ancient art; in connection art, it is restricted to vessels of an ornamental kind. Few remains of antiquity have excited more interest than vases, particularly those of Greece, and of the Greek colonies and conquests. The names given by classical writers to vessels adapted for different purposes, have not always been easily identified with time ancient vases which have been preserved to us; but according to the nomen clature of M. Gerhard, which has generally been adopted, the following are the principal varieties, classified according to their uses: 1. Vases for holding wine, oil, or water, known under the names of amphora and dicta stamnos. 2. Vases for carrying water, hydria, calpis. 3. Vases for mixing wine and water, crater, ozyb«phon. 4. Vases for pouring, oinnchoe, olpe, prochm2s. 5. Drinking cups or goblets. cantharus, kyathus, karchesion, holchion, kyphos, kylaz, lepaste, phials, keras, rhyton. 6. Vases for ointments or perfumes, lekythos, alabastron, askos, bomylios, aryballos, kotyliscos.
The materials of which vases are formed include metal, stone, glass, and earthenware.
Vases of the precious metals were in use among the ancient Egyptians. Among the Greeks and Greek colonists of Asia Minor, they were very early employed for sacrificial purposes, and those of silver were frequently chased, an art in which considerable progress had been attained at a remote period. The general improvement in design in the epoch of Phials, told in time chaser's art, the complete development of which was, however, according to Pliny, due to Polyeletus. In the latter period of the Roman republic, chased silver vases were more than ever in request; but under the empire, chasing fell into disuse. Bronze, iron, and lead were all used as materials for vases. Bronze vases abounded among the presents made to the Greek temples; they were generally thin and hammerad out, often decora.ed with inlaid ornaments or reliefs, among which mythological subjects and animal heads appear, and the handle sometimes assumed the shape of the human figure. Leaden vases were chiefly used for ungents or perfumes. The gold and silver vases of the first few centuries of the Christian era were, for the most part, imitations of pagan art. In the 12th c., a style was introduced, called damascene work, with patterns of gold or silver wire imbedded in iron or bronze. vases of this kind were made by Benvenuto Cellini.
Among time mineral materials which, plain and enriched, have been used both in ancient and modern times for vases, are marble, lapis lazuli, jasper; semi-transparent stones, such as opal, girasol, agate, chalcedony, sardonyx, cornenan; as also transparent gems and rock crystal. Multitudes of vases of precious stones were brought to Rome from the conquered provinces, particularly from Asia. Those in highest esteem were the my rrhi»e vases, whose material has been the subject of dispute among antiquaries; they are described by Pliny as brilliant, gemlike, and of various colors, generally purple an.l white, mingled with the iridescent hues of the rainbow. Precious stoats. have not ceased to be a material for vases; large and costly vases of malachite and jasper arc manufactured in Russia; and elaborately carved vases are still made of the white alabaster of Volterra, in Tuscany.