The Anatomy Book T 
which lies betwixt the Nerves, and as in Gentlewomens Needle-works, 
fills all up, is nothing elfe, but the continuation of the Cortical Body. 
or Parenchymous part of the Barque from the Branch into it felf, asin 
moft Plants with a thick Leaf, may eafily be feen, 
8. $. The Fibers of the Leaf neither fhoot out of the Branch, or 
the Trv#k, nor ftand in the Stalk, in an even Line 3 but alwayes in 
either an Angular or Circular pofture 5 and ufually making either a 
Triangle, or a Semi-Circle, or Chord ofa Circle 3 as in Cichory, Erdiz 
Cabbage, &xc. may be obferved. ‘And if the Leaf have but on 
ber, that alfo is poftur’din a bowed or Lamar Figure 5 as in Mi 
others. The ufual number of thefe Vafénlar Threds or Fibres is 3,501 7. 
9. §. The reafon of the faid Pofitions of the Fibers in the Stalk of 
the Leaf, is for its more Ercéf growth, and greater Strength: which, 
were the pofition of the faid Fibers in an even Line, and fo the Stalk, 
it felf, as well asthe Leaf, flat; muft needs have been defeétive 3 as 
from what we have faid of the Circumferential pofture of the Lignous 
Body in the Trunk, we may better conceive, 
10. $. As likewife for the fecurity of its sap: For by this means 
it is, that the feveral Fibers, and efpecially the main or middle Fiber 
of the Leaf, together with a confiderable part of the Parenchyma, are 
fo difpofed of, as to jut out, not from its upper, but its back, or 
neither Side. Whence the whole Leaf, reclining backward, becomes 
a Canopy to them, defending them from thofe Injuries which from 
colder Blafts, or an hotter Sun, they might otherwife fultain. So 
that by a mutual benefit, as Thefe give Jack to all the Leaf, fo that 
again protection to Thefe. 
11. $. Thele Fibers are likewife the immediate Vifible Caufe of the 
Shape of the Leaf. For ifthe nethermoft Fiber or Fibers in the stalk 
(which thence rans chiefly through the length of the Leaf ) be in pro- 
portion greater, the Leaf is long 3 as in Endive, Cichory, and others: 
fall of a more equal fize, it fpreads rounder, as in Joy, Doves-foot, 
Colts foot, &c. And although a Dock-Eeaf be very long, whole 
Fibers notwithftanding, as they ftand higher in the stalk, are difpofed 
into a Circle all of an equal fize 5 yet herein one or more peculiar 
Fibres, ftanding, in ornear the Center, betwixt the reft, and running 
through the length of the Leaf, may be obferved, 
12. $. In correfpondence alfo to the fize and fhape of thefe Fibres, 
is the Leaf flat. In that either they are very fmall, or if larges, yet 
they never make an entire Circle or Ring 3 but either half of one, as 
in Borage, or at moft three parts of one, as in Afuller, may be feen. 
For if either they werefo big, as to contain , or fo entire, as perfectly 
to include a Pith, the Energy of the Sap in that Pith, would caufe 
the faid Ligzous Ring to fhoot forth on every fide, as it doth in the 
Root or Trunk: But the faid Fibers being not figur'd into an entire 
Ring, but fo as to be Open; on that hand therefore where open 
they cannot fhoot any thing dircétly from themfelves, becaufe there 
they have nothing to thoot; and the sap havin; 
through the faid opening, againft th 
unto oppfite, it can have no force 
forth on that hand 5 and fo will 
Which the force of the Sap directs, 
eft. 
alfo a free vent 
at part therefore which is there- 
3 and fo neither will they fhoot 
they confequently, that way only, 
» Which is only on the right and 
13.8 
