FRIEDRICH (1805-59). A German writer on political economy. He was born at Freiberg and studied at the University of Leipzig (1823-20, where he was appointed in 1833 to the chair of applied philosophy and political science. The principal works of this prolific writer include: Eneyklopiidie der Staats aissenschaften (2d ed., 1855) Gesehichte des earopaischen Stantensystents (1837-39); Wahl recht and Wahlyerfahren (1549); Geheinte Gc sehichten and ratselhafte Menschon (12 vols., 1850430 ; 2d ed., ISfi3-64 ) BULB (Fr. bathe, Lat. blab/is, from Gk. bolbos, bulbous root). A leaf-bud, mostly subterranean, in which the leaf bases are thick ened, being full of stored filial. The thickened leaf-bases are very much crowded together and form the conspicuous part of the bulb. 'Sealy' bulbs are those in which the leaf-bases are com paratively narrow and small, and are imbricated, as in the common lily. "l'unicated' or 'coated'
bulbs arc those in which the leaf-bases are very large and completely enwrap one another, form ing eoncentric coats, as in the onion and tulip. When fresh, the scales of the tunicated bulb are rather thick, but when dry they become thin. and even papery. •11ullilets' are small aerial !milts which either replace flower-beds. as in the onion, or which arise from the axils of loaves, as in the tiger-lily.
The significance of bulbs in the life history of the plants which produce them is that they en able the plants to develop new working struc tures with great rapidity. For example, a new plant completely equipped for work may be de rived from a bulb in very much shorter time than from the seed. Such a habit enables plants to take advantage of short seasons of opportunity. See GEOPHYTE.