PART II.

CHAP. I.

Of the EMPALEMENT.

I NEXT proceed to the Flower. Where I intend not to repeat those things, which have been by Me already noted in the First =Book=. ♦ Ch. 5. ♦ And the foregoing Discourse of Leaves, will excuse me from divers particulars, common to These and the Flower. I shall here therefore remarque some things not before mentioned, or but in transitu, and such as are more particular to the Flower.

2. §. And First, it may be noted; That where the Leaves of the Flower are few; those of the Empalement or Green Border, are either of the same Number, or just half as many, whether even, or odd. So in Leucanthenum and Chickweed, there are Five Leaves; in the former Five Empalers; in the latter, Ten. In Great Celandine, there are Four Leaves, and but Two Empalers; and so in Poppy. The Arithmetick of Nature being every where suitable to Her Geometry.

3. §. Of this Part of the Flower it is likewise observable, That it is rarely, if ever, entire or one piece, but parted into divers little Leafy Pales, especially in all Flowers with the Florid Attire, as of Marigold, Daisy and the like; being so numerous, as to make a Double, and often a Treble, Quadruple or Quintuple Border. Whereby they are aptly designed, not only to protect the Leaves of the Flower in the Bud; and after their Expansion, to keep them tite: but also, by receding, Bredthways, one from another, and so making a greater Circle, gradually to give way for the full Growth and safe spreading of the Attire. Which, in regard it consists of Parts so exquisitely tender, were it pinched up too close, would be killed or spoyled before it came to the Birth. As Teeming Women, gradually slaken their Laces; or as Taylors use to split their Stomachers into several Lappets, to spread, as their Belly rises.

4. §. Nor is the Posture of the Parts in the Empalement less suitable: not being filed one just over another, but alternately. Whereby the Pales or Pannicles of every Under-Order, serve to stop up the gaps made by the Recess of the Upper. And so, notwithstanding they all make more roome, yet all conspire to keep the Aer out.

5. §. It is also worth the notice, That, for the same purpose, the Edges at least, of the several Pales, are neither Fibrous, nor Pulpy; but so many extream fine transparent Skins, as in Chamemile. Whereby they close so exactly one over another, that it is impossible for any Aer to creep in, or any Steams useful to the Attire or Seed, over hastily to perspire. As we use, when we have put a Cork into a Bottle, to tie a Bladder over it.

CHAP. II.

Of the FOLIATURE.

♦ Tab. 54. ♦ THE Leaves of the Flower are folded up in such Sort, as is most agreeable to their own Shape, and that of their inclosed Attire: ♦ Ch. 5. ♦ whereof I have given Instances in the First =Book=. I shall here add some further Remarques.

2. §. The Leaves of the Flower of Blattaria, although of different Size and Shape; ♦ Tab. 54. ♦ are so lapped one over another, as to make an Equilateral Pentangle.

3. §. The Spiral Fold, which is proper to the Flower, and never seen in the Green Leaves; ♦ Tab. 54. ♦ as it is it self immediately visible on the Surface, so by cutting off the top of the Flower before it is expanded, seems also to make a Helix; as in Perwincle, the larger Convolvulus, &c.

4. §. In some Flowers, where the Attire is lofty or spreading, as in Holioak, together with the Spiral Fold, the Leaves are all at the top tacked down a little; thereby making a blunter Cone, and so a more ample Pyramid for the inclosed Attire.

5. §. In Poppy, although the Leaves are extraordinary broad, yet being but few, and inclosing a small Attire; they could not be well reduced to any regular Fold, ♦ Tab. 54. ♦ without leaving such a Vacuity, as by being filled with Aer, might be prejudicial to the Seed. For which reason, they are cramb’d up within the Empalement by hundreds of little Wrinckles or Puckers; as if Three or Four fine Cambrick Handcherchiefs were thrust into ones Pocket.

6. §. In Ladies-Bower, the Leaves are neither laped one over another, as is most usual, nor set Edge to Edge, as sometimes, but Side to Side, ♦ Tab. 54. ♦ answerable to their Shape, and the Distribution of their Fibres. Their broad Tops being also rowled up so as to make a Cone. In Ladys-Looking-Glass, they stand also Side to Side, but in a different manner: in the Former with the Sides standing inward, but here, bearing outward.

7. §. In the Marvel of Peru, the Fold is likewise very peculiar. For, besides the several Plates, about Six, ♦ Tab. 54. ♦ whereby the Flower is gathered in the Midle; the Top of it is also gathered up by as many distinct Plates, underneath the former; and these rowled or wreathed up together so exactly, that the like could hardly be imitated by a very dextrous Hand.

8. §. OF the Hairs upon Flowers and their Use to the Attire, I have also spoken in the First =Book=. ♦ Ch. 5. ♦ I shall here add, That they are likewise of Use to the Leaves themselves, that is, for their closer and faster Conjunction. For of some Flowers it is observable, That they are all over smooth, saving on their Edges, which are border’d with Fringes of Hair; as of Spanish Broome, Dulcamara, and others: ♦ Tab. 55. ♦ In which, the Hairs on the Edge of one Leaf, are so complicated, or at least indented, with those of another, that all the Leaves seem to be but one piece. Nature seeing it fit, by this means to tie them together, lest they should be expanded before it be due time.

9. §. Many Flowers instead of Hairs, are beset round about, with a great Number of small Parts, not ending in a Poynt, but having a Head. Sometimes oval, as in Snap-Dragon, like the Horns of a Butterfly, or a Plummers Sodering-Iron. But usually Globular, as in Deadly Nightshade, like so many little Mushrooms sprouting out of the Flower.

10. §. Out of these Heads, doth sometimes issue a Gummy or Balsamick Juyce. From whence proceeds that Clamminess of some Flowers, whereby, being handled they stick to our Fingers, as do those of Blattaria, and of Marigold; and those of Colus Jovis, where the said Heads are so soft and succulent, that they resemble so many little Drops of Balsame. The Clamminess which is felt upon fresh Carduus, may perhaps proceed from the like Cause.

11. §. THE Number of the Leaves of the Flower hath been noted by the Learned Sir Thomas Brown, ♦ Treat. of the Quinc. ♦ to be usually Five. And this Nature so far affecteth, that many times where the Leaves of the same Flower are of a different Size, yet they keep to this Number, ♦ Tab. 54. ♦ as in Blattaria.

12. §. I also add, That even those Flowers, which are not properly parted into Leaves, have yet their Tops usually divided into Five great Scallops; as those of Toad-Flax, Snap-Dragon, Coded-Arsmart, Clary, Broom, and others. And when the Flower hath more than Five, even many times Five Leaves; yet the Top of each Leaf is indented into Five Parts; ♦ Tab. 54. ♦ as in Scorzonera, Cichory, and all the Intybous Kind, with many others.

13. §. From whence and other like Instances, it may seem, That there is some certain Species of Salt in Nature, and that in most Plants, of whose Agency there are still some Footsteps or other in the Flower.

14. §. The Number of the Leaves, as hath been said, is commonly Five. Yet some Flowers have fewer, and some more, and that with Constancy, in divers Numbers, from One to One and Twenty; perhaps in all, so far. The Flower of Acanthus Syriacus, is in a manner one single Leaf, that of Monks-Rubarb, Three-Leav’d; of Poppy, Crosswort, Radish, and many others, Four-Leav’d; the greater Number of Flowers, Five-Leav’d; of White Hellebore, Tulip, Onion, and most Plants with Bulbous Roots, Six-Leav’d; of Wild-Crowfoot, Seven-Leav’d; of French Marigold, commonly Eight-Leav’d; of Flower-de-luce, Nine-Leav’d; of Chickweed, Ladies-Mantle, Ten-Leav’d; of St. James’s Wort, Thirteen-Leav’d; and I think of Febrifuga, Cotula, Ageratum, Corn-Marigold, with others; and of Chamemile, Buphthalmum, and some few more, the Leaves are commonly One and Twenty. In that of St. James’s Wort, the Number is so constant that there is scarce One Flower in Forty, wherein the Leaves are more or fewer than Thirteen. ♦ Tab. 55. ♦ Divers of which Numbers, seem also to have some relation to the Number 5. For 9, is Twice; 13, Thrice; and 25, Five times 5 running into it self.

15. §. THE Constituent Parts of the Flower are the same as those of the Leaf, sc. the Parenchyma or Pulp, and the Vessels. But in the Basis or bottom of the Flower, the Parenchyma is commonly much more spongy and dry, than in the Leaves; conteining, after the Flower is open’d, little or no Sap, but only a dry and warm Aer. Which standing continually under the Seed, hastens the Maturation or due Exiccation thereof: as we use to dry Maulted Barly over a warm Killn.

16. §. The Vessels of the Flower, are both for Sap and for Aer, as well as in other Parts. And both of them sometimes, even in the Skin of the Flower; as may be argued from its being stained with divers Colours; produced as hath formerly been shewed, by the mixed Tinctures of the said Vessels. ♦ B. 2. P. 2. §. 65, 66, 67. ♦ These Colours, in many Flowers, as Tulips, as they are in the Skin it self, so therein only; the Pulp of the Leaf being white.

17. §. The Lignous or Sap-Vessels are fewer, and the Aer-Vessels smaller in the Flower, than in the Leaf. And therefore it is very difficult to observe the latter by Glasses; especially the Proportion which they hold to the other Parts. But if you break the Leaves of some Flowers, with very great gentleness; they may hereby be Unroaved or drawn out, as in the Green Leaves, to some visible length; and their different Number in divers Flowers may be discerned.

18. §. THE Use of the Flower or of the Foliature whereof we are speaking, is various; ♦ B. 1. Ch. 5. ♦ as hath formerly been shewed. I now only add, That one Use hereof seemeth to be, for the Separation of the more Volatile and stronger Sulphur of the Plant. That so the Seed, which lyeth within or next it, may be so much the milder, and the Principles thereof more fixed and concentred. And this, both for its better Duration till the time of Sowing; and also, that its Fermentation, when it is sow’n, may not be too hot and precipitate; but suitable to so slow and equal a motion, as is the Vegetation of a Seed.

19. §. And that this Sulphur is separated and discharged by the Flower, seems evident, not only from the Strength of its Odour, above that of the other Parts; but likewise, in that many times where there is no Flower, or that very small, the Seed, that is its Cover, as in the Umbelliferous Kind, is the more odorous. And therefore also, the Vine hath no Flower, partly, that the most Volatile Spirit and Sulphur might all run into the Fruit.

20. §. THE Figure of the Flower, although it is often much more complex, than that of the Leaf: yet there is no doubt, but that the Measure hereof may be defined in some way, answerable to that exemplified in the foregoing =Part=. The difference is only this, That whereas the Green Leaves, and the Plain Leaves also of the Flower, are all measured by the parts of several Circles: those Flowers which are Bellyed, and those Leaves of the Flower which are not Plain, but Convex, are all measured by the parts of several Spheres. And as the Diametres of those Circles, bear a certain proportion to the midle Stemm of the Leaf; so the Axes of these Spheres, to an imaginary one in the Centre of the Flower.

21 §. NOW the reason why the Figure of the Flower is more multiplex, than that of the Leaf; may be, partly, because it is under the Command and Government of those Salts, which are here more refined and depurate, than in the Leaf; and so more free to lay the Foundation of any kind of Figure, for which, of their own Nature, they are adapted. Partly, for that as the Nitrous and Alkaline Salts are chiefly regnant in the Leaf; so in the Flower, in which the Parenchymous Part hath a greater proportion than in the Leaf; it is most reasonable, to assign the Predominion to the Acid: the Particles whereof, both as they are less, and also poynted at both ends, seem to be more easily applicable one to another for the making of any Sort of Line or Figure.

§. 17.

Idea, §. 52.

P. 1. Ch. 6. §. 13.

CHAP. III.

Of the Attire, and first of that sort which may be called Seminiform.

WITHIN the Foliature stands the Attire; which is of Two general Kinds, every where Various and Elegant; according to the Description I have given of them in the First =Book=. ♦ Ch. 5. ♦ I shall here add some further Remarques.

2. §. And first, of that Sort of Attire, which may be called Seminiform; being usually, as it were, a little Sheaf of Seed-like Particles; standing on so many Pedicills, as the Ear doth upon the End of the Straw.

3. §. Of their Colour it is observable, That for the most part, they are White or Yellow; sometimes Blew; but never Red, let the Flower or Foliature be of what Colour it will. Neither doth their Colour always follow that of the Foliature, although that be not Red. Whereby it appears, how very Curious and Critical Nature is, in the Separation of the Juyces in Plants: that such small Parts as these of the Attire, and so near the Leaves of the Flower, should yet receive a different Tincture.

4. §. These Parts differ also in their Position; standing sometimes double upon each Pedicil, as in Toad-flax, Snapdragon, and some others; ♦ Tab. 55. ♦ but usually single, as in Blattaria, Clematis Austriaca, &c. Sometimes fastned to their Pedicils at their middle, stooping down after the manner of Poppy and other hanging Flowers; as in Spanish-Broom, Hysop, Scabeous, Behen, &c. Sometimes they stand erected, as in Clematis Austriaca, Ladyes-Looking-Glass, Rape-Crowfoot, &c. Those of Coded Arsmart have no Pedicils, but stand upon a large Base.

5. §. Of the Pedicils themselves, it is to be noted, That they are rarely fastned to the Top of the Repository or Case of the Seed, but round about the Bottom. Partly, That hereby they may the better intercept and separate the Incongruous Parts of the Sap from the Seed. Yet in the Coded Arsmart they stand at the Top. Which is not the only thing peculiar in that Plant; it being the property thereof, to ejaculate its Seed, upon the least touch. Which property seemeth to depend, partly, upon the Position of the said Pedicils, as shall be shewed in speaking of the Seed.

6. §. These Seed-like Parts are also of different Number. In Great Celandine, Rose, Rape-Crowfoot, numerous; in Great Plantaine, and some other Herbs, much more conspicuous than the Foliature it self. In Germander-Chickweed, they are always Two, and no more. Sometimes they follow the number of the Leaves, especially in the number 5; as in Blattaria, Black Henbean, &c. In Stichwort and Lychnis Sylvestris, they are 10, just double to the number of the Leaves.

7. §. They differ also in their Bigness, being in some smaller Flowers, large; as in Borage, Ladys-Looking-Glass, and others: and in some larger Flowers, less; as in the Rose.

8. §. But especially in their Shape, which is always very Elegant, and with much Variety. In Borage, like the point of a Spear. In Blattaria, like a Horse-shooe. In Clematis Austriaca, like the Spatula, wherewith Apothecaries make their Mixtures. In Mallow, like a Head-Roll. In Hysop, they have one Cleft before; in Blattaria, one round about; in Water Bettony, one at the Top; in Scabious, they have a double Cleft, one on each side; ♦ Tab. 56. ♦ and so in St. Johns Wort, Hyoscyamus, and others; before they open, in the Shape of a double Purse.

9. §. These Parts, are all hollow; each being the Theca or Case of a great many extream small Particles, either Globular, or otherwise Convex; but always regularly figur’d. They are all crowded together, and fastned in close Ranks, without any Pedicils, to the Insides of the Theca, like other lesser Seeds within a greater; or after the same manner as in Hyoscyamus and some other Plants, the true Seeds themselves grow all round about close to the Bed of the Case; as in Clary, and the Figures now referred to, may be seen. ♦ Tab. 55, 56. ♦ And when they are ripe, the Case also opens and admits them to the Aer, as the Seed-Case doth the Seed. The whole Attire, together with the Foliature and Seed-Case, ♦ Tab. 57. ♦ See in one Example, amongst the Figures.

10. §. The Colour of these small Particles conteined in the Theca, is also different. But as That is usually White or Yellow, so are These: sometimes Blewish; but never Red. And sometimes not of the same Colour with that of the Theca. Which further shews how scrupulous Nature is, in differencing the Tinctures of the several Parts.

11. §. They are also of different Bigness and Figure. Those in Snap-dragon, are of the smallest Size I have seen; ♦ Tab. 58. ♦ being no bigger through a good Microscope, than the least Cheese-Mite to the naked Eye. In Plantain, also through a Glass, like a Scurvy-grass-seed. In Bears-foot, like a Mustard-seed. In Carnation, like a Turnep-Seed. In Bindweed, like a Peper-Corn. In all these of a Globular Figure.

12. §. In Devils-bit, they are also Round, but depressed, like the Seed of Goos-grass, or a Holland Cheese. In the Bean and all sorts of Puls, and Trefoyls, as also in Blew-bottle, &c. they are Cylindrick. ♦ Tab. 58. ♦ In Orange Lilly, Oval, one 5ᵗʰ of an Inch long, like an Ants-Egg. In Deadly-Nightshade, also Oval, but smaller at both Ends. And those of Pancy, Cubick. In all these and the former, they are Smooth.

13. §. But in Mallow, Holyoak, and all of that kind, they are beset round about with little Thornes; whereby each looks like the Seed-Ball of Roman Nettle, or like the Fruit of Thorn-Apple, or the Fish called Piscis orbis minor, or the Murices, used antiently in Wars. ♦ Tab. 58. ♦ They are also very great, shewing, through a Glass, of the bigness of a large White Pease; being 200 or 300 times biger than those in Snapdragon; of which there are about a Thousand in each Theca, that is, in the space of about 1000ᵗʰ Cubical Part of an Inch.

14. §. In some Plants, as in Deadly Night-shade, where these Particles are White, they seem, by a very good Glass and advantagious Position, to be composed of Parenchymous and Lignous Fibres, stitched up together, as in the other Parts.

15. §. In Colocynthis, (and with some Analogy in Wild Cucumer, and I suppose all of that kind) the Attire is very peculiar, not consisting of several little Thecæ, upon so many Pedicils, as is described; but is all one entire Part, like a thick Columna in the midst of the Flower; having several little Ridges, and Furrows winding from the Top to the Bottom round about. In the midle of each Ridge runs a Line, where the Skin, after sometime, openeth into two Lips, presenting the Globular Particles conteined in the hollow of every Ridge.

16. §. Where the Attire consists of several Seed-like Parts, as is described there, another Part distinct, like a little Columna or Pinacle, stands on the Top of the Uterus or true Seed-Case. Which is also regularly and variously Figured. In Bindweed, it hath a round Head, like that of a great Pin. ♦ Tab. 56, 57. ♦ In the Common Bell, St. Johns wort, it is divided into Three Parts. In Geranium, into Five; In Asarum, into Six. Sometimes, the Head is Smooth, and sometimes beset with little Thorns, as in Hyoscyamus. Of the Use of these Parts, anon.

CHAP. IV.

Of the FLORID ATTIRE.

IN THIS Attire there is also much Elegant Variety, according to the Description we have given of it in the First =Book=. It always consists of several Suits; Ten, Twenty, Fourty, a Hundred, or more, according to the Bigness of the Flower. And every Suit most commonly, of three distinct Parts, all of a Regular, but Different Figure. The utmost Part, is always like a little Flower with Five Leaves and a Tubular Base, like that of Cowslip. ♦ Tab. 59. ♦ So that every Flower with the Florid Attire, Embosomes, or is, a Posy of perfect Flowers.

2. §. In some Flowers, every one of these Florets, is encompassed with an Hedg of Hairs; and every Hair branched on both sides almost like a Sprig of Fir; ♦ Tab. 59. ♦ as in Aster Atticus, Golden-Rod, and others.

3. §. The Base of the Floret is usually Cylindrick, but sometimes Square, as in French Marigold. And the Leaves hereof which, for the most part, ♦ Tab. 60. ♦ are Smooth on the Inside, in the same Flower are all over Hairy. And the Edges of these little Flowers, are frequently Ridged, or as it were, Hem’d, like the Edge of a Band.

4. §. The midlemost of the Three Parts, which I call the Sheath, ♦ B. 1. Ch. 5. ♦ is usually fastened towards the Top, or else at the Bottom of the Floret. ♦ Tab. 60, 61, 62. ♦This is rather indented, than parted into Leaves. The Surface seldom Plain or Even, but wrought with Five Ridges, and as many Gutters running almost Parallel from the Top to the Bottom.

♦ B. 1. Ch. 5. ♦ 5. §. The Inmost Part, which I call the Blade, runs through the hollow of the Two Former, and so is fastned, with the Floret, to the convex of the Seed-Case. The Head and Sides of this Part, is always beset round about with Globulets, commonly through a Glass, as big as a Turnep-seed, or a great Pins-Head. In some Plants growing close to the Blade, as in the common Marigold; ♦ Tab. 60, 61, 62. ♦ in the French, and others, upon Pedicils or little slender Stalks. These, as the Blade springeth up from within the Sheath, are still rubed off, and so stand like a Powder on them both. And sometimes, as in Cichory, they seem to grow on the Inside of the Sheath, if it be split with a small Pin: as also in Knapweed, in which they are numerous. Yet in the Seed-like Attire, always more numerous, than in the Florid.

6. §. The Head of the Blade is always divided into Two, and sometimes into Three Parts, as in Cichory; ♦ Tab. 58, &c. ♦ which, by degrees, curl outward, after the manner of Scorpion-Grass.

7. §. The Description now given, agrees principally to the Corymbiferous Kind, as Tansy, Chamemile, and the like. But in Scorzonera, as also Cichory, Hawk-Weed, Mous-ear and all the Intybous Kind, with many more, the Attire is not separate from the Foliature, so as to stand within that in one entire Posy; but every Leaf of the Flower hath its own Attire apart. For the sake of which, the Basis of every Leaf is formed into a little Tube or Pipe,♦ Tab. 62. ♦ whereby it embosomes its own Attire within it self. Consisting commonly of Two Parts, a Sheath and a Blade: the Leaf it self answering to the Floret in other Flowers.

8. §. In some Plants, besides the Attire or Posy in the midle of the Flower; the Leaves also have each their own to themselves, as in Marigold: ♦ Tab. 61. ♦ yet this, as I take it, consisting only of one single Part, which answers to the Blade; the Leaf it self being as the Sheath.

9. §. In many Plants, this Florid Attire is very large; so that not only the Suits, ♦ Tab. 61. ♦ but also the several Parts whereof every Suit consists, being throughly ripe and well blown open, are all visible to the bare Eye, as in Knapweed, and all the Thistle Kind. This Attire is all the Flower, that this sort of Plants have; being, though Empal’d, yet without any Foliature.

10. §. And sometimes, there is little or no Flower besides this Attire, although extream small, as in Golden Rod, Wormwood and others. Where it may be noted, That the Medicine called Wormseed or Semen Santonici, is no Sort of Seed, but the Buds of small Flowers, or of the Florid Attire of that Plant.

CHAP. V.

Of the Use of the Attire.

OF the Secondary Use hereof, I have spoken in the First =Book=; ♦ Ch. 5. ♦ and particularly, of the Globulets or small Particles within the Thecæ of the Seed-like Attire, and upon the Blades of the Florid, I have conjectur’d, That they are that Body which Bees gather and carry upon their Thighs, and is commonly called their Bread. For the Wax they carry in little Flakes in their Chaps: but the Bread is a Kind of Powder; yet somewhat moist, as are the said little Particles of the Attire.

2. §. But the Primary and chief Use of the Attire is such, as hath respect to the Plant it self; and so appears to be very great and necessary. Because, even those Plants which have no Flower or Foliature, are yet some way or other Attir’d; either with the Seminiform, or the Florid Attire. So that it seems to perform its service to the Seed, as the Foliature, to the Fruit.

3. §. In discourse hereof with our Learned Savilian Professor Sir Thomas Millington, he told me, he conceived, That the Attire doth serve, as the Male, for the Generation of the Seed.

4. §. I immediately reply’d, That I was of the same Opinion; and gave him some reasons for it, and answered some Objections, which might oppose them. But withall, in regard every Plant is ἀῤῥενόθηλυς or Male and Female, that I was also of Opinion, That it serveth for the Separation of some Parts, as well as the Affusion of others. The sum therefore of my Thoughts concerning this Matter, is as follows.

5. §. And First, it seems, That the Attire serves to discharge some redundant Part of the Sap, as a Work preparatory to the Generation of the Seed. In particular, that as the Foliature serveth to carry off the Volatile Saline Sulphur: So the Attire, to minorate and adjust the Aereal; to the end, the Seed may become the more Oyly, and its Principles, the better fixed. And therefore the Foliature generally hath a much stronger Odour, than the Attire: because the Saline Sulphur is stronger, than an Aerial, which is too subtile to affect the Sense. Hence also it is, that the Colour of the Parts of the Attire, is usually White, or Yellow, never Red: the former, depending upon a greater participation of Aer; the latter, of Sulphur. I add further, That the most Volatile and Aerial Sulphur; being by means of these Parts much discharged; it may hereby come to pass, not only that the Seed is more Oylie, and its Principles more fixed; but also, that the Body or Parenchyma thereof, is so compact and close: For although it consists of Bladders, yet such, as are Twenty times smaller than in any other Part of a Plant of the like bigness. Whereas, were the Aer copiously mixed with the Sap here, as in the Pith, Fruit, and other Parenchymous Parts; it would give so quick a Ferment to the Sap, as to dilate and amplify the Bladders of the Seed, beyond its present compact and durable Texture; and so expose it, either to a precipitant Growth, or sudden Rot. Wherefore, as the Seed-Case is the Womb; so the Attire (which always stands upon or round about it) and those Parts of the Sap hereinto discharged; are, as it were, the Menses or Flowers, by which the Sap in the Womb, is duly qualified, for the approaching Generation of the Seed.

6. §. And as the young and early Attire before it opens, answers to the Menses in the Female: so is it probable, that afterward when it opens or cracks, it performs the Office of the Male. This is hinted from the Shape of the Parts. For in the Florid Attire, the Blade doth not unaptly resemble a small Penis, with the Sheath upon it, as its Præputium. And in the Seed-like Attire, the several Thecæ, are like so many little Testicles. And the Globulets and other small Particles upon the Blade or Penis, and in the Thecæ, are as the Vegetable Sperme. Which, so soon as the Penis is exerted, or the Testicles come to break, falls down upon the Seed-Case or Womb, and so Touches it with a Prolifick Virtue.

7. §. Consentaneous hereto it is also observable, That those Herbs generally have the Seed-like Attire, which either produce a greater Quantity of Seed, or a Perennial Root: and that there is no Tree, with the Florid Attire. As if the other, because it contains a far greater Proportion of the abovesaid Particles, that is, of Sperm; ’tis able to beget a more Numerous, Vivaceous, or Gigantick Birth.

8. §. That the same Plant is both Male and Female, may the rather be believed, in that Snails, and some other Animals, are such. And the Parts which imitate the Menses, and the Sperm, are not precisely the same: the former, being the External Parts of the Attire, and the Sap, which feeds them; the latter, the small Particles or moyst Powder which the External inclose.

9. §. And that these Particles, only by falling on the Uterus, should communicate to it or to the Sap therein, a Prolifick Virtue; it may seem the more credible, from the manner wherein Coition is made by some Animals; as by many Birds, where there is no Intromission, but only an Adosculation of Parts: And so in many Fishes. Neither in others, doth the Penis ever enter any further than the Neck of the Womb. Nor doth perhaps the Semen it self: or if it doth, it can by no means be thought, bodily or as to its gross Substance, to enter the Membranes, in which every Conception, or the Liquor intended for it, before any Coition, is involved; but only some subtle and vivisick Effluvia, to which the visible Body of the Semen, is but a Vehicle. And the like Effluvia may be very easily transfused from the above said Particles into the Seed-Case or Womb of a Plant.

10. §. If any one shall require the Similitude to hold in every Thing; he would not have a Plant to resemble, but to be, an Animal.

CHAP. VI.

Of the Time of the Generation of the Flower.

THE Time in which the Flower is Generated or Formed is a Providence in Nature, whereof, I do a little wonder, that no one, amongst so many observers of Plants, hath ever yet taken any notice. It is therefore to be remarked, That all Flowers are formed or perfectly finished, in all their Parts, long before they appear in sight; usually Three or Four Months, and sometimes half a year, or more. And that in all Perennial Plants, those Flowers which appear and are called the Flowers of any one year; are not formed in that year; but were actually in Being, and entirely formed in all Parts, the year before; as in many Herbs, and in all Shrubs and Trees.

2. §. This will best be seen by some Instances. So the Flower of Mezereon, which opens in January, is entirely formed about the midle of August in the year foregoing. At which time, the Green Leaves of the Bud being cautiously removed, ♦ Tab. 63. ♦ the Leaves of the Flower, and the Thecæ Seminiformes or Seed-like Attire, encompassing the Seed-Case, through an indifferent Glass, are all distinctly visible.

3. §. The like may be seen in Sirynga, and other Shrubs, and in Trees. In as many of which, as are Frugiferous, the Fruit also, which answers to the Seed-Case in other Plants, is about the same time entirely formed.

4. §. And so in Herbs; as the Flower of Asarum, which appeareth in April or May, is entirely formed in August or July of the foregoing year. For there are here, as well as in Trees, ♦ Tab. 64. ♦ Two Sorts of Buds; some which are composed only of Green Leaves; and some which also contein a Flower and the Seed-Case. So in Bears-foot, by some called the January Rose, the Flower-Buds, which open in January are all formed in or before the Month of August in the year preceding.

5. §. The same may also be seen about the end of August or the beginning of September in a Tulip-Root. ♦ Tab. 63. ♦ In which, the Two Inmost Shells dryer than the rest, stand hollow, with the little young Flower (which appears in March or April following) inclosed now in their Centre. Being thus kept warm and dry, lest it should either perish, or be precipitated upon the Winter, by sprouting too soon.

6. §. From hence it is plain, That although the Flower appears before the Seed; yet if the comparison be made betwixt the Flower and Seed of the same year; the Seed is first formed, and afterward the Flower. That is, the Seed, for which Nature chooses the Firstborn Sap, is formed in the fore part of the year: which work being finished, out of the less fœcund part of the Sap, the Flowers intended for the Sire and Matrix of the next years Seed; is afterwards produced.

7. §. THE true Time of the Generation of the Flower being know’n, it may also be an Inducement to make Tryal, for the bringing of many Flowers to grow fairly in Winter, which are used to grow, that is, to appear, only in the Spring and Summer: sc. by keeping the Plants warm, and thereby enticing the young lurking Flowers to come abroad.

The Appendix.

Being a Method proposed, for the ready finding, by the Leaf and Flower, to what Sort any Plant belongeth.

ALTHOUGH many have bestowed extraordinary Care and Industry upon the searching out, and Description of Plants; and for the reducing of them to their several Tribes: yet I will take leave, here to propose a short Method whereby Learners, seeing a Plant they know not, may be informed to what Sort it belongs, and so be directed where to find it described and discoursed of. For, except they have a Master to conduct them, which few have; they must needs, by seeking at random, lose a great deal of time, which by a regular Enquiry might be saved. Besides, that what is learned by their own Observation, will abide much longer on their mind, than what they are only Poynted to, by another.

2. §. Now the most Philosophick way of distinguishing or sorting of Plants, were by the Characteristick Properties in all Parts, both Compounded, Constituents, and Contents. But of the Compounded, the Seeds, and some other Parts, are oftentimes very minute: and the Roots always lie hid. As also the Constituent Parts, every where, without cuting and the use of Glasses. Nor can the Contents be accurately observed otherwise. So that for the Use here intended, those Properties are the fitest to be insisted upon, which are the most Conspicuous, and in those Parts, where the Learner may the most readily and without any difficulty take notice of them; as in the Flower and Leaf. The Flower hath Varieties enough of it self. But in regard it is often wanting, when the Green Leaf is not; it is therefore convenient, that he be assisted by both, and that the Varieties of both be distinctly reduced unto Tables. Which may be done, after the following, or some other like manner.

3. §. And First for the Leaves. The most obvious Varieties of which, are in their Position, Size or Shape.

4. §. Leaves are fastned with, or without a Stalk. Without, only close to the Branch, as in Southistle; or surrounding it, as in Thorow-Wax.

5. §. Both these ways, they stand either singly, that is, but one at the same height; or more together.

6. §. More together, in Even or Odd Numbers. In Even Numbers, commonly Two and Two, as in Sage, Polium; Sometimes Four, as in Cross-wort, Madder, Herb True-Love, Pomum Majæ; or more, as, I think, in Woodrofe, &c. In Odd Numbers, Three, as in all Trefoyls, Strawberries; Five, in Pentaphil, Castanea Equina; Seven, in Tormentil.

7. §. The Sizes of Leaves are innumerable. It is therefore necessary to reduce them to a Standard. And so, they may be reckoned, Three; Small, Mean and Great: with respect to the Length of the Leaf, the Breadth, or both. From one Inch and under, all Leaves may be accounted Small; from one Inch and over, to five Inches, Mean; from five and over, Great.

8. §. The Shapes of Leaves are also numberless. But the most obvious distinctions which they admit of, are such as these;

9. §. Leaves are Membraneous, as the greater part; Squameous, as Abies, or Filamentous. Which are solid, as in Fenil, Meum, Buphthalmum, Chamemile, Groundpine; or hollow, as in Onion.

10. §. Membraneous, have all their main Fibres produced either from the Stalk, as in Holyoak; or from the middle Stem of the Leaf, as in most. From the midle Stem, reciprocally, as in Scabious, or oppositely, that is, one over against another, as in Rose: and both ways, at Acute Angles, as in most; or Right, as in Dandelion.

11. §. Again, they are different with respect to the Top, the Bottom, and the Sides. The Top is Thorny, as in Furz; or Unarmed. Unarmed, either Produced, that is, Poynted, or at least, Roundish, as in Lamium, Ironwort; or else Reduced, as in Woodsorrel. And so the Bottom, is either Reduced towards the Top, as in Ground-Ivy; or Produced upon the Stalk, as in Poplar, Bay, &c.

12. §. The Sides or Edges of the Leaf, are either of one and the same Measure, as commonly; or of divers, as in Doronicum. Both ways they are Even, as in Syringa, Mous-ear; or Uneven. The Uneven, are Prickly, as Holly, Eryngium, Thistle; or Unarmed. Unarmed, are Insected, or Resected. Insected deeply, that is, Lobed, as Golden Liverwort, Clematis Peregrina; or with shallow Insections, as in most. And so, Indented, or Scallopped: the former, when the Angle is made with Straight Lines, as in Dandelion; the latter, with Crooked, as in Thalictrum. Resected, that is, both Lobed, and Insected, or when upon the greater Insections, there are other lesser ones, as in Wild-Clary, Lovage, Masterwort.

13. §. THE most Conspicuous Varieties of Flowers, are in their Position, Size, Shape, and Colour.

14. §. Most are fastned with Stalks; but many without. Sometimes, they are placed round about the Branch, that is, Coronated, as in Pulegium; and sometimes, all on one side; either in Ranks only, as in Bawm; or in Rank and File, as in Foxglove. In Saxifraga Aurea, they grow on the Leaf.

15. §. Again, they either stand Singly, as in Corn Marigold; or Clustur’d. And so, either all upon one Branch, or on several little Ramificated Sprigs. On one Branch, prolonged like a Tail, as in Blattaria; or Contracted. And so, either without Stalks, that is, Capitated, as in Scabious; or with Stalks, that is, Umbellated, as Fenil, &c. On several Sprigs, as in Tanacetum, Yarrow.

16. §. The Sizes of Flowers, as of the Leaves, may be reduced to Three. From ½ an Inch and under, in Diameter or Length, may be accounted Small. From ½ an Inch and over to an Inch and ½, may go for Mean. And from an Inch and v and over, Great.

17. In respect of the Shape, Flowers are Open or Belly’d. Open have both Leaves and Attire, as most; or else are all Attire, as of Burdock, Beta Cretica.

18. §. The Open, consist of a Certain Number of Leaves, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Thirteen, or One and Twenty. Uncertain, commonly called Double. Those of a Certain Number, either Uniform, that is, all of a certain Size and Shape, as usually; or Biform, or Triform, as in Iris, Blattaria. And these again, Even Edged or Notched; with Three Poynts, as in Marigold; or Five, in Cichory.

19. §. The Belly’d, are either so in whole; or in Part, that is, with the Top divided into Leaves, and the Bottom, Hollow: The former, are also Even Edged, as in Convolvulus; or Notched, as in Trachelium. The latter have their Leaves distinguished as before. Their Bottom or Base, either fastned to the Seed-Case, as in Snap-dragon; or standing below it. And so, either Straight, as I think in Toad-flax; or Crooked, as in Violet, Lark-heel.

20. §. In all these, the Attire is either Seminiform, or Florid. And both, Clustur’d, or Divided; as in Mallow, St. Johns wort; Starwort, Hawkweed.

21. §. The Colours of the Flower, are White, as in Water-Crowfoot; Red, as Lychnis; Blew, as Borage; Purple, as Stock-July Flower; Black, as in some Anemones; Yellow, in Wall-Flower; Tawny, in Colus Jovis; Green, in Laureola. Which are either Single, or Mixed: Two together, as in Butyr-Bur, White and Red; in White Hellibore, White and Green; in Monks Rubarb, Red and Green; &c. Or Three together, as in Pancy, Yellow, Blew, and Black, i.e. atro-purpureus.

22. §. How far these, and some other like Distinctions, being reduced to Tables, would serve for the finding out of any Sort of Plant, may be conceived, if we consider, how great a Variety, a few Bells, in the ringing of Changes, will produce. And the search will be easy, and successfull, if in every foregoing Table, reference be made to those that follow; and in the Tables conteining the last Divisions, the Names of the Plants therein poynted out, be expressed.

THE

ANATOMY

FRUITS,

PROSECUTED

With the bare EYE,

And with the

MICROSCOPE.

Read before the Royal Society, in the Year 1677.

The THIRD PART.

By NEHEMJAH GREW M.D. Fellow of the ROYAL SOCIETY, and of the COLLEGE of PHYSICIANS.

LONDON,

Printed by W. Rawlins, 1682.

THE

CONTENTS

OF THE

Third Part.

CHAP. I.

Of the APPLE; and of the LIMON, and CUCUMER, the Fruits of Plants vulgarly called POMIFEROUS.

CHAP. II.

Of the PEAR and QUINCE.

CHAP. III.

Of the PLUM, and some other Fruits of the same Kindred.

CHAP. IV.

Of the GRAPE, and HAZEL-NUT; with some other Fruits analogous to each of them.

CHAP. V.

Of the SEED-CASE or MEMBRANEOUS UTERUS.

CHAP. VI.

Of the USE of the Parts to the Fruit.

CHAP. VII.

Of the USE of the Parts to the Seed. And the TIME, in which, the Uterus or Fruit and Seed-Case are formed.

THE

ANATOMY

FRUITS.