204 Cyp PLANTS. 



the grain issues a green sprout ; from the other a number of 

 white fibrous threads. (PI. XXXIV. fig. 5.) How can this 

 -be explained ? Why not sprouts from both ends ? Why not 

 fibrous threads from both ends 1 To what is the difference 

 to be referred, but to design ; to the different uses which 

 the parts are thereafter to serve ; uses which discover them- 

 selves in the sequel of the process ? The sprout, or plum- 

 ule, struggles into the air , and becomes the plant, of which, 

 from the first, it contained the rudiments; the fibres shoot 

 into the earth ; and, thereby, both fix the plant to the 

 ground, and collect nourishment from the soil for its sup- 

 port.* Now, what is not a little remarkable, the parts is- 

 suing from the seed take their respective directions, into 

 whatever position the seed itself happens to be cast. If 

 the seed be thrown into the wrongest possible position, 

 that is, if the ends point in the ground, the reverse of what 

 they ought to do, every thing, nevertheless, goes on right. 

 The sprout, after being pushed down a little way, makes 

 a bend and turns upwards ; the fibres, on the contrary, 

 after shooting at first upwards, turn down. Of this extraor- 

 dinary vegetable fact an account has lately been attempted 

 to be given. " The plumule, it is said, is stimulated by 

 the air into action, and elongates itself when it is thus 

 most excited , the radicle is stimulated by moisture, and 

 elongates itself when it is thus most excited. Whence 

 one of these grows upwards in quest of its adapted object, 



* " The seed, the last production of vigorous vegetation, is wonder- 

 fully diversified in form. Being of the highest importance to the re- 

 sources of nature, it is defended above all other parts of the plant, by 

 soft, pulpy substances, as in the esculent fruits; by thick membranes, 

 as in the leguminous vegetables ; and by hard shells, or a thick epi- 

 dermis, as in the palms and grasses. 



" In every seed there is to be distinguished, first, the organ of 

 nourishment ; secondly, the nascent plant, or the plume \ thirdly, the 

 nascent root, or the radicle. 



" In the common garden bean, the organ of nourishment is divided 

 into two lobes, called cotyledons ; the plume is the small white point 

 between the upper part of the lobes; and the radicle is the small curv- 

 ed cone at their base. 



" In wheat, and in many of the grasses, the organ of nourishment is a 

 single part, and these plants are called monocotyledonous. In other 

 vcases it consists of more than two parts when the plants are called 

 polycotyledonous. In the greater number of instances, it is, how- 

 ever, simply divided into two, and is dicotyledonous. 



■" The matter of the seed, when examined in its common state, ap- 

 pears dead and inert ; it exhibits neither the forms nor the functions of 

 iife. But let it be acted upon by moisture, heat and air, and its organiz- 



