OCR Text |
Show ‘The Anatomy — : Book lV, fome thicknef, as in Plums, Borage, Scabious. Yet always extream thin at the Tp of the Radicle ; the moreeafily_ to break and yield to it, as the Secundine to the Fetus, whenit firft {hoots into the Ground. And fometimes, as in the Seeds of an Orange, it hath at cne end, the refemblance of a Placenta. But of this, and the two upper Coats, I fhall give a further Defcription in the laft Chapter. 9. §. AS ALLSeeds are exOvo3 fo there are many with thin Covers, as of Orach, Spinage, Beet, and the reft of that Tribe, &e. which befides the Albumen orclear Liquor out of which theyare bred; have alfo, a Vitel/um, or a Body thereunto Avalogus: being neither part of the Seed, nor part of the Covers, but diftiné from them both. With refpect to the Bulk of the Seed, verylarge, as white as Starch, and prettyfriable, like good Rice or Barley: of a roundifh Figure, and grooved on the Girth, fo asto have a double Edge ; Whereby the Seed, which is long and flender, lies round it, as a Sack of Cornupon a Pack-Saddle Book IV. of Seeds. 13. §. With refpect to the ufé of this Cover, it is obfervable, that where there is a Stove or Shell over it, as in the Barbado Nut, it is fofts but where there is none, as in Nux Vomica, fh, &c. ‘tis hard 5 and fo it {elf inftead of a Stone. As alfo, That it becomes hard, only by the proper Nature ofits Parenchyma, and the exquifite /mallnefs of the Bladders of whichit confifts. Whereas a Stove, 1s alfo hardened by the Lees or Tartar of the Sap whichfinks into it,and thereby petrifies it (2) as hath been faid. So that whereas a Stove, as it lies in the Ground, a P.3; only cleavs in certain Places, but continueshard : This Cover, like fome Cf, 3, Horns, wpon the due acceflion of Mozffure, doth gradually become foft. Whereby, as while itis hard, it performs the Office of a Stone, ‘in guarding the Seed til the proper Seafon for its Growth: So afterwards whenit is foft, it anfwers, as in Orach or Dock, (b) toa vi- (2 Ch, 83 telum, from whence the Seed receivethits firft and pureft Alzment. $. 2 Ge ora Rope upon a Pully-wheel. Upon myfirft notice hereof, it feemed to an{wer to a Placenta. But uponfurther confideration, the Amalogy doth not hold betwixt them. For the Placentalies without the atembranes in whichthe Fetus is conteined: whereas this bodylies within CHAP. the Covers contiguousto the Seed, and fo becomesits firlt and fineft Aliment, as the Yelk doth tothe Chick, For which purpofe, as in the Ge- neration of the Seed, it isa pure Milky Chyle 5 So in its Vegetation, it is converted into the like again. IV. Of the FOETUS or true SEED: and firft of the RADICLE and LOBES. 1o. §. The fame Bodyfor Suftance, is obfervable in the seeds of Rhapontich, Dock, Sorrel, and the reft of that kindred, with this dif ference; That whereas in Orach, &c. the Seed only lies uponit ; here, the main Body or Lobes of the Seed are immerfed therein, the Radicle {tanding naked or above it. gn AV ING difcourfed of the Covers, Icome next to Y, the Seed or Fetus it {elf Of the Shape and Poflare whereof, I thall give fome Examples, firft, a» So that the faid Lobes, and therein the Seminal-Root are beded herein, as ina Tub of Mealoralittle pot of pure refit.d Adould, neceflaryforthefirft Vegetation of the Radicle. 11. § BY THESE midle Steps, Nature proceeds from the Thiner Covers of Seeds 5 or thofe, which after the Generation of the Seed is finifhed, fhrink up; to the Bulky Kind, or thofe which keep their Bulk after they aredry. Wherein, not only the Lobes, as in Dock, but the whole Seed is immediately lodged. Different in Subfiance, Shape and Bulk; but always manytimes bigerthan the true Seed withinit: for which itis commonly miftakens but isno more the Seed, than is the Stove of a Plum, the Keruel. 12. §. Inthe Barbado Nut, ‘tis White, Soft, Conick-oval, and ta« king all its Diwentions, 8 or 10 times bigger than the Seed within it. In Afhen Keys, ‘tis ofa fad Colour, hard, yet fomewhat Oyly, Oval and fiat, and of the fame Bigvefs asinthe Barbado Nut, with refpect to the Seed. In the Fruit commonly called Nux Vomica Officinarum, ‘tis: of the Colour and Harduefs of a Cows-Horne; and makes almoft the whole Body of the Fruit, being about 14 or 15 times the Bulk of the Seed, In Goofgrafs or Cliver ‘tis of the like Horny Subftance, but fhaped fomewhat like a Boxet with the Rimtuckt in. And fo in a Coffee-Berry; but rowled or foulded up intoa kind of Oval Figure, with a Notch or Rima through the Length, where the two Exds meet. Withother diverities which will beft be underftood, when I come prefently to the De/cription of the Seed herein contained, Lvs P% mong thofe with the thinner fort of Covers 3 and @ then, of thofé with the Bulky one: where I fhall fpeak only of the Lobes, or Main Body, and the @@Q Radicle. Next, I fhall defcribe the {everal forts of Nodes or Buds of Seeds. And laftly, the feveral Parts, of which the Lobes, Radicle, and Buds are compounded. 2. §. Among Seeds with the Thinner Covers, are thofe ofall forts of Corr and Grafs Ofadifferent make, from that of moft other Seeds ¢ The Maiz Body being not divided into Lobes, but one entire Piece , doubled in the form of a Pair of Lipps. Gus Inteftinalis carryed into the Bowels of the Chick: Sois this; intoa like substance, and by the Branches of the Seminal Root ( formerly defcrib’d_) conveyed to thofe Parts, which become the future Plant, B. 1, ch; i 3. §. Of Relation tothis Kind, the Seeds of Dates, and of fonie other like Plants, may be efteem’d. For that which is commonly called the Stowe, feems indeed tobe the Maiz Body ofthe seed, doubled ot folded up in the fame manneras in Corz. To which that Part which becomes the Plat, is annexed. 43.9; And whereas commonly, the whole Seed is very Soft and Oyly; here, only thofe two minute Parts, which become the Root and Stalk, are fo: The Main Body being of a different Subftance ; when the Corn is ripe, hard and friable 5 but whenit is fown, eafily colliquable into a kind of Milk or Chyle, fo that, in fome refpedts, it hath a near Avalogy toaVitellum. Foras that is gradually melted into a fort ofChyle, and by the Branches of the Du- But whereas in Corn, ’tis placed at Lab. 7 Tia the |