[L., dim. of vās vessel.]
1. Bot. = ASCIDIUM 2.
1832. Lindley, Introd. Bot., 96. The singular form of leaf in Sarracenia and Nepenthes, which has been called Ascidium or Vasculum.
1859. Mayne, Expos. Lex., Vasculum,… the cup which terminates the leaves of the Nepenthes; a vascule.
2. A special kind of case used by botanists for carrying newly collected specimens.
Usually made of tin in the form of a flattened cylinder, with a lid on one side opening lengthways.
1844. Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, II. 82. The botanists having stored each their vasculum with specimens of the Rubi, the party again united.
1877. Sir C. W. Thomson, Voy. Challenger, I. 14. Various implements such as harpoons, botanical vasculums, an injecting copper, &c., are conveniently suspended from the beams and deck by hooks.
1887. J. Ball, Nat. in S. Amer., 128. I shouldered my tin vasculum and went ashore.
