Celebrating the millennium - historical highlights of photosynthesis research.

one of the great uses of leaves is what has been long suspected by many, viz., to perform in some measure the same office for the support of the vegetable life, that the lungs of animals do, for the support of animal life; Plants very probably drawing thro’ their leaves some part of their nourishment from the air....And may not light also, by freely entering the expanded surfaces of leaves and flowers, contribute much to ennobling principles of vegetables.