Chapter IV: Part 4

And as every Part hath two, so the whole _Vegetable_ taken together, is a composition of two only, and no more: All properly Woody Parts, Strings and Fibres, are one Body: All simple _Barques_, _Piths_, _Parenchyma’s_ and _Pulps_, and as to their substantial Nature, _Pills_ and _Skins_ likewise, all but one Body: the several Parts of a _Vegetable_ all differing from each other, only by the various Proportions and Mixtures, and variously sized Pores of these two Bodies. What from these two general Observations might reasonably be inferr’d, I shall not now mention.

The fourth and innermost Cover we may call the _Secondine_; the sight whereof, by cutting off the Coats of an _Infant-Bean_, at the Cone thereof in very thin Slices, and with great Caution, may be obtain’d. While unbroken, ’tis transparent; being torn and taken off, it gathers up into the likeness of a Jelly, or that we call the _Tredle_ of an Egg, when over-boyl’d. This _Membrane_ in larger or elder _Beans_, is not to be found distinct; but becomes as it were the Lining of the inner Coat: But (as far as our Enquiries yet discover) it may in most other _Seeds_, even full grown, be distinctly seen; as in those of _Cucumber_, _Colocynthis_, _Burdock_, _Carthamum_, _Gromwel_, _Endive_, _Mallows_, &c. ’Tis usually so very thin, as in the above-nam’d, as very difficultly to be discover’d. In some _Kernels_, as of _Apricots_, ’tis very thick; and in some other Seeds. That all these have the Analogy of one and the same Cover, which I call the _Secondine_, is most probably argu’d from their alike Natures; being all of them plain simple _Membranes_, with not the least Fibre of the _Lignous Body_ or _Seed Branch_, visibly distributed in them; as also from their Contexture, which is in all of them more close.

The Concave of this _Membrane_ is filled with a most transparent Liquor, out of which the Seed is formed; as in cutting a _petite_ and _Infant-Bean_, may be seen; and yet better in a young _Walnut_. In _Beans_ I have observed it to turn, upon boyling, into a tender white _coagulum_.

Through this _Membrane_, the _Lignous Body_ or _Seed-Branches_ distributed in the inner Coat, at last shoot downright two slender Fibres, like two Navles, one into each _Lobe_ of the _Bean_. The places where the said Fibres shoot into the _Lobes_, are near the _Basis_ of the _Radicle_; and by their Blackishness well enough remark’d: but the Fibres themselves are so very small, as scarcely to be discern’d: Yet in a _Lupine_, of the larger kind, both the places where the Navel-Fibres shoot into the _Lobes_ (which here from the _Basis_ of the _Radicle_ is more remote) and the Fibres themselves, are fairly visible. For the _Seed-Branch_, upon its entrance into the Coat of the _Lupine_, is presently divided into two _main Branches_, and those two into other less; whereof some underly, others aloft, run along the Coat, and towards its other end meet and are inosculated; where about two opposite, shallow, round, and most minute Cavities, answerable to two Specks of a _cartilaginous_ gloss, one in either _Lobe_, may be observed, which Specks are the ends of the said _Navel-Fibres_, upon the ripening of the _Seed_ there broken off. These Fibres, from the Superficies of each _Lobe_, descend a little way directly down; presently, each is divided into two Branches, one distributed into the _Lobes_, the other into the _Radicle_ & _Plume_, in the manner as in the first Chapter is describ’d. And thus far the History. I shall now only with a brief account of the _Generation_ of the _Seed_, as hereupon dependent, conclude this Discourse.

Let us say then, that the _Sap_ having in the _Root_, _Trunk_, and _Leaves_, passed divers Concoctions and Separations, in the manner as they are said to be perform’d therein; ’tis now at last, in some good maturity, advanced towards the _Seed_.

The more copious and cruder part hereof is again seperated by a free reception into the _Fruit_, or other Part analogous to it: being either sufficiently ample to contain it, or at least laxe enough for its transpiration, and so its due discharge. The more Essential part is into the _Seed-Branch_ or Branches entertain’d; which, because they are evermore of a very considerable length, and of a Constitution very fine, the said _Sap_ thus becomes in its Current therein, as in the _Spermatick Vessels_, still more mature.

In this mature estate, from the _seed-Branch_ into the Coats of the _seed_, as into the Womb, ’tis next delivered up. The meaner Part hereof again, to the outer, as _aliment_ good enough, is supplied. The finer part is transmitted to the Inner; which, being, as is said, a _Parenchymous_ and more spatious Body, the _Sap_ therefore is not herein, as in the outer, a meer _aliment_; but in order to its being, by Fermentation, farther prepared.

Yet the outer Coat, being on the contrary hard and dense; for that reason, as it admitteth not the Fermentation of the _Sap_ so well within it self; so doth it the more promote and favour it in the Inner, being Bounds both to it and its _Sap_; and also quickneth the process of the whole Work in the formation of the _Seed_.

Nor doth the outer Coat, for the same reason, more promote than declare the purity of the _Sap_ now contained in the Inner: For being more hard and dense, and so not perspirable, must needs suppose the Parts of the _Sap_ encompassed by it, since thus uncapable of any evacuation, to be therefore all, so choice, as not to need it.

The _Sap_ being thus prepared in the inner Coat, as a Liquor now apt to be the _Substratum_ of the future _Seed-Embrio_, by fresh supplies, is thence discharged; yet that it may not be over-copious; which, because of the laxity of the Inner Coat from whence it issues, it might easily be; therefore as the said inner Coat is bounded without by the upper Coat, so by the _Secondine_ or _Membrane_ is it bounded within; through which _Membrane_ the _Sap_ being filtr’d, or, as it were, transpiring, the depositure hereof, answerable to the _Colliquamentum_ in an Egg, or to the _semen Mulibre_, into its Concave at last is made.

The other Part of the purest _sap_ embosom’d in the Ramulets of the _seed-Branch_, runs a Circle, or some progress therein; and so becomes, as the _Semen Masculinum_, yet more elaborate.

Wherein also, lest its Current should be too copious or precipitate, by their co-arcture and divarication where they are inosculated, it is retarded; the noblest portion only obtaining a pass.

With this purest _sap_, the said _Ramulets_ being supplied, from thence at last, the _Navel-Fibres_ shoot (as the privitive _Artery_ into the _Colliquamentum_) through the _Secondine_ into the aforesaid Liquor deposited therein.

Into which Liquor, being now shot, and its own proper Sap or Tinctures mixed therewith, it strikes it thus into a _Coagulum_; or, of a Liquor, it becomes a Body consistent and truly _Parenchymous_; and the supply of the said Liquor still continu’d, and the shooting of the Navel-Fibres, as is above described, still carried on, and therewith the said _Coagulation_ or _Fixation_ likewise.

And in the Interim of the _Coagulation_, a gentle _Fermentation_ being also made, the said _Parenchyma_ or _Coagulum_ becometh such, not of any Constitution indifferently, but is thus raised (as we see Bread in Baking) into a _Congeries_ of _Fixed Bubbles_: For such is the _Parenchyma_ of the whole Seed.

FINIS.

THE EXPLICATION OF THE FIGURES.

_Fig. 1._

_Sheweth a ~Bean~ with the two ~Lobes~ laid open somewhat wider than the Parts, without a Rupture, will well bear, for the better sight of that Part which lieth between them._

_aaaa_ The two Lobes.

_AA_ Their contiguous Flats.

_b_ The Radicle.

_c_ The Plume.

_dd_ One of the Cavities wherein the Plume lieth.

_Fig. 2._

_aaaa_ The _Parenchyma_.

_eeee_ The _seminal Root_ distributed throughout the
_Parenchyma_ of either _Lobe_.

_b_ The _Radicle_, with the _seminal Root_ running through it
in one Trunk to the Point thereof.

_c_ The _Plume_, with the Distributions of its _Inner Body_
continued from the _seminal Root_ of either _Lobe_.

_xx_ The oblique _Insertion_ of the two grand Branches of the
_Lobes_ into the Trunk of the _Radicle_.

_Fig. 3._

_The ~Lobe~ of a ~Bean~ cut athwart._

_aaa_ The convex or external part thereof.

_bbb_ The concave side out of sight.

_cccc_ The Extremities of the Branches of the _seminal Root_,
as they appear like so many small Specks in the traverse Cut.

_Fig. 4._

_The Plume cut athwart._

The black Specks represent the Branches of the _seminal Body_
thereinto inserted, or therein distributed.

_Fig. 5._

_aaaa_ A _Lobe_ of a _Gourd-seed_.

_cccc_ The greater Branches.

_ee_ The Sub-divisions and Inosculations of the lesser.

_Fig. 5. 00._

_AA_ A great white _Lupine_.

_aa_ The _Navel-Fibres_ which strike from the Ramulets of the
_Seed-Branch_, into the _Lobes_.

_ab_ The production of the _Navel-Fibre_ into the _Radicle_
(_b._)

_c_ The _Plume_.

_bc_ The _Pith_.

_aeeee_ The distribution of the _Navel-Fibre_ in the _Lobes_;
all becoming the _seminal Root_, describ’d in the first Chapter.

_Fig. 6._

_aaaa_ A Slice of the Root of a Tree.

_cccc_ The _Cortical Body_ or _Barque_.

_e_ The _Pith_.

The black Pieces are the Shootings of the _Lignous Body_.

The Specks therein are its _Pores_.

The White Pieces are the _Insertions_ of the _Cortical Body_.

_Fig. 7._

_Sheweth the Root of ~Berbery~ in the Traverse Cut._

_aaa_ The _Cortical Body_ or _Barque_.

The white Lines are the _Insertions_.

The Black Specks are the Pores of the _Lignous Body_.

_Fig. 8._

_aaaa_ The _Cortical Body_ as appearing in a _Turnep_ cut
athwart.

_acdacd_ The _Lignous Body_, or the several Shoots thereof
represented in their Ranks, by the black Lines; the Pricks
made along the Lines being the Terminations of the said Shoots
or Fibres; not visible except in a thin slice, or after the
Surface of the _Turnep_, being cut, is well dried.

_cccc_ The _Cortical Body_ inserted betwixt the Shootings of
the _Lignous_: or the _Pith_.

_ab ab_ A piece of the _Cortical Body_ taken off, that its own
Insertions (_eeee_) and the Osculations of the _Lignous_ may
be seen; which is best done after the Insertions are a little
dried and shrunk.

_The Appearance of divers Roots, in their Elder estate, as ~ex. gr.~ of a ~Columbine~._

_Fig. 9._ The Fibrous parts of the _Root_, where the _Lignous
Body_ stands Central; the Pores whereof are represented by the
black Specks.

10. The _Root_ cut a little higher, where the _Cortical Body_
sometimes appears only once inserted.

11. The _Root_ cut higher with the Insertions in some number.

12. The Insertions still more numerous.

13. The _Pith_ (_a_) now begun, the said Insertions being
collected in the Center.

14. The _Pith_ (_a_) more amplified.

_Fig. 15._

_Sheweth a small piece of the Trunk of ~Burdock~._

_a_ The just size thereof to the naked Eye.

_aaaa_ The appearance of it through a _Microscope_.

_lll_ The Inserted _Cortical Body_.

_ccc_ The outmost shooting of the _Lignous Body_ distributed
into the Leaves.

_ee_ _bb_ _tt_ The inner Shootings or Fibres distributed to the
Branches.

The Black Specks are their Pores, which, through a _Microscope_
are fairly visible in them all.

_Fig. 16._

_aaaa_ The Slice of a Trunk of divers years growth.

_cccc_ The _Cortical Body_, or _Barque_.

_e_ The _Pith_.

The white Lines are the Insertions of the _Cortical Body_ or
_Barque_.

The Black Lines are the _lignous Body_.

The several Shootings thereof betwixt the black Circles shew
the Annuall Rings.

_Fig. 17._

_Sheweth a small piece of Oak cut athwart._

_b_ The just bigness of it, as it appeareth to the naked eye.

_bbbb_ The appearance thereof through a _Microscope_.

_aaaa_ The greater Insertions visible to the bare eye.

The white Lines are the smaller Insertions only visible by the
_Microscope_.

_cccccc_ The greater Pores visible to the bare eye.

_eeeeee_ The middle sized.

The black Spots are the smallest of all, and both these latter
visible only through the _Microscope_.

_c_ The _Pith_ of every great Pore.

_Fig. 18._

_aaaa_ A piece of the Leaf of a Table.

_bbbb_ The _lignous Body_ with its Pores running by the length
of the Trunk.

_cccc_ The Insertions of the _Cortical Body_, with the Tract of
their Pores running directly cross to those of the _lignous_,
_viz._ by the Diameter or breadth of the Trunk.

_Fig. 19._

_A Slice of a younger Trunk of a ~Burdock~._

_cccc_ The utmost Shootings of the _lignous Body_ contiguous to
the Skin; wholly distributed into the outer Leaves.

_eeee_ The middle Shootings running chiefly into the lower
_Germens_.

_et_ _et_ &c. The inner Shootings belonging to the higher
_Germens_.

_a_ The _Pith_.

_The various Disposure, Size and Figure of the ~Fibres~ in the Stalk of a Leaf._

_Fig._

20 In _Endive_ thus.
21 _Coltsfoot_.
22 _Cycory_.
23 _Ivy_.
24 _Asarabacca_.
25 _Mint_.
26 _Dock_.
27 _Borage_.
28 _Mullen_.
29 _Cabbage_.

_FINIS._

_Fig: 16_ _Fig: 2_

_Fig: 3_ _Fig: 15_

_Fig: 5_

_Fig: 4_]

_20_ _21_ _22_ _23_ _24_ _25_ _26_ _27_ _28_ _29_]

_Fig: 17_

_Fig: 18_]

End of Project Gutenberg's The Anatomy of Vegetables Begun, by Nehemiah Grew