26 



the distinction of sex not only in trees, but in herbs, 

 and in all plants. Yet this is no where more observa- 

 able/' adds he, *' than in palms, the females of which 

 never propagate, but when they are fecundated by 

 the dust of the male." He calls the female palms, 

 deprived of male assistance, barren widows. He 

 compares the conjunction of these plants to that of 

 animals ; and says, that to generate fruit, the fe* 

 male needs only the aspersion of the dust of the flovr* 

 ersof the male. 



