PEELIMINAEY DISCOURSES. STl 



German Poet, GOETHE, whose writings show him to have been no 

 less accomplished in Botany, than eminent in Belles-Lettres. * 



In accordance with the view here presented, a Plant may proper- 

 ly be said to consist of root, stem, and leaves ; all other parts 

 under whatever name being modifications of these. The limits 

 assigned to these discourses forbid a complete illustration of the 

 doctrine : but a brief sketch may be attempted, of the more strik- 

 ing modifications which the external organs undergo, during the 

 development of a plant: i. e. in its progress from the germinat- 

 ing seed, up to the perfection of its fruit. Those who read French, 

 may find the doctrine elaborately set forth in SAINT-HILAIRE'S Mor- 

 phologic Vegetate ; and in our own language, it may be found briefly 

 but well explained, in the elementary works of GRAY, and LINDLEY. 

 To prevent misapprehension, however, it may be well to let the 

 student understand the precise and proper sense in which the term 

 metamorphosis is used, by the Botanists. "When, for instance, the 

 floral organs are called modified or metamorphosed leaves, it is not to 

 be supposed that a petal has ever actually been a green leaf, 

 and has subsequently assumed a more delicate texture and hue, or 

 that stamens and pistils have previously existed in the state of 

 foliage; but only that what is fundamentally one and the same 

 organ developes, in the progressive evolution of the plant, under 

 each or any of these various forms. When the individual organ 

 has once fairly begun to develope, its destiny is fixed." GRAY'S 

 Text-Book. 



It has been aptly remarked, that the best mode of explaining things, 

 is to show how they come to pass. That is the mode adopted by 

 GOETHE, in explaining the metamorphosis now under consideration ; 

 and it is the one we shall endeavor to pursue. 



It will be borne in mind, that a sound and perfect seed (by which 

 is meant, one that is capable of vegetating,) is neither more nor 

 less than a plant in miniature rudimentary, it is true, but an 

 organized, living plant, existing in a dormant state, or what may 

 be called suspended vitality. It awaits but the joint application of 

 certain vivifying agents (namely, warmth, moisture, and oxygen,) 

 to rouse it into active life ; when its bursts its envelopes, and com- 

 mences its career of growth. The opinion, so generally entertained, 



* It is due, however, to truth and justice, to say, that very fev important doc- 

 trines, or views, concerning the Vegetable kingdom, have yet been promulgated, of 

 which " the immortal SWEDE " had not some intelligent perception. The idea so 

 happily illustrated by GOETHE, had very nearly occurred to the mind of LINNAEUS, 

 about the middle of the last century. It was first distinctly enunciated by C. I'R. 

 WOLFF, in 17 64. 



