6 MINUTES OF 



Oji the Structure of Vegetables. 



tender; but as soon as it becomes ligneous, it emits radicles on every side, which 

 continue the absorption, and convey it, first to the root, and then to the whole 

 plant. Thus, if a plant, or tree, be transplanted, it succeeds with greater certainty, 

 the more absorbent radicles are preserved with the root. 



^uThe branches are new trees implanted on the parent-stem, which serve to 

 enlarge the quantity of surface which the whole plant exposes to the atmosphere. 



The leaves consist, like the rest, of epidermis, cellular tissue, and^bre. 

 They are every where supplied Avith fibres, which commonly run in every direc- 

 tion, and branching out into innumerable small threads, interwoven with the pa- 

 renchyma, like fine gauze or lace. 



The surface of the epidermis of a. leaf, like that of an animal, is full of 

 pores, which serve both for respiration and the absorption of air and moisture. The 

 absorbent pores or oscula of the leaves continually take in air and moisture from 

 the atmosphere, which, by a kind of chemical process, imparts to the sap its 

 essential principles, which were destroyed; and the superfluous, noxious, and 

 disengaged parts, are again expired. 



The parenchyma consists of very minute fibres, disposed in extremely 

 small cells, which are of various sizes in the same leaf. All leaves, of whatever 

 figure, have transverse ribs and a marginal fibre, by which the rest are bounded. 

 The particular shape of this fibre determines the figure of the leaf The use of the 

 leaves js to nourish the plant with the nutritious juice they reserve in their paren- 

 chymatous substance; and to expire and inspire air and water. Hence the leaves 

 of plants are to them, Avhat the lungs are to animals. 



The seeds and flowers, as to minute, organic structure, resemble the 



wood and Tiark. 



The flower is a temporary part of vegetables allotted to generation, termi- 

 natino- the old vegetable, and beginning the new. It consists of seven principal 

 parts, namely, the calyx, corolla, stamina, pistillum, pericarpium, semina, and re- 

 ceptacle; the four first belong properly to the flower, and the three last to the 

 fruit. 



