TO BOTANY. 9 



"which dispersing itself about the flower, part of it 

 lodges on the surface of ttie stigma, where it is de- 

 tained by the moisture -with -which that part is cover- 

 ed; and each single grain- -or atom of the pollen 

 bursting ana '-dissolving in this liquor, as it has been 

 observed to do by the microscope, is supposed to 

 discharge something that impregnates the germen 

 below. What the substance is that is so dis- 

 charged; and whether it actually passes through the 

 style into the germen, seerns yet undetermined, it 

 being difficult to observe such minute parts ; but 

 whatever be the operation by which nature pro- 

 duces the effect in question, the. cause, as far as it 

 has been here explained, is scarce disputable; and 

 accordingly we see, that after this impregnation, 

 when the parts of the dower that have done their 

 office are fallen away, the Germen swells to a fruit 

 big with seeds, by which the species is propagated. 

 The pistillum beingj as I have said, the female part 

 of the flower, is of great consequence in the Sexual 

 System, as well as the male part; as will appear 

 when the System comes to be explained, 



CHAP. VI. 

 OF THE PEUICARPIUM. 



THE PEIUCARPTUM, Seed-vessel, is the Germen, 

 described in the last chapter, grown to maturity. It 

 is defined by Linnaeus as an entrail of the plant big 

 with seeds, which it discharges when ripe. 



It is distinguished, according to the circumstances 

 that attend it, by the following appellations : 



CAPSULA, a Capsule, is a hollow pericarpium, 

 which cleaves or parts in some determinate manner. 

 The inclosure of the capsule, which surrounds and 

 covers the fruit externally, is called a valvule ; the 



