NEHEMIAH GREW'S "ANATOMY OF PLANTS" 15s 



round together in or near the Center, thereby making a round, 

 and slender Trunk. To the end, it may be more tractable, to 

 the power of the external Motor, what ever that be : also more 

 secure from breaking by its winding motion." The winding of 

 some plants in one direction and some in the other he surmises 

 to be due respectively to the influence of the sun and the moon. 

 The following passage seems to be an anticipation of modern 

 work on the nutation of non-climbers [cf. Darwin's Poivcr of 

 Movement in Plants]. " The Convolution of Plants, hath been 

 observed only in those that Climb. But it seems probable, that 

 many others do also wind; in which, the main stalk, is as the 

 Axis to the Branches round about. Of which number, I conceive, 

 are all those whose Roots are twisted ; . . . whether it be so, 

 or not, the Experiment may easily be made by tying a Thred 

 upon any of the Branches ; setting down the respect it then hath 

 to any Quarter in the Heavens : for, if it shall appear in two or 

 three Months, to have changed its Situation towards some other 

 Quarter ; it is a certain proof hereof." 



Dimorphic leaves interested Nehemiah Grew a good deal ; for 

 instance, those of the " Little Bell" (Harebell). His explanation 

 in this case is that the radical leaves were formed in the seed, 

 whereas the upper later-formed leaves have been fed with a 

 different sap supplied direct by the root. He enters into a 

 detailed account of methods of vernation and bud-protection, 

 which shows careful and extensive observation. He notes, for 

 instance, the mucilage which occurs in " the first spring-leaves 

 of all kinds of Docks; betwixt the leaves and the Veil wherein 

 they are involved." The aestivation of flowers appeals to him 

 no less than the vernation of leaves. In the Poppy, for instance, 

 the petals " are cramb'd up within the Empalement by hundreds 

 of little Wrincklcs or Puckers ; as if Three or Four fine Cambrick 

 Handcherchifs were thrust into ones Pocket." 



The anthers he finds contain certain powders " which as 

 they start out, and stand betwixt the two lips of each Cleft, 

 have some resemblance to the common Sculpture of Pome- 

 granate with its Seeds looking out at the Cleft of its Rind." 

 The use of the "Attire" (andrcecium) he says is "for Orna- 

 ment and Distinction to us, and for Food to other Animals. 

 . . . We must not think, that God Almighty hath left any of 

 the whole Family of his Creatures unprovided for ; but as the 

 Great Master, some where or other carveth out to all ; and 



