TO BOTANY 13 



CHAP. IX. 



OF THE DISTINCT CHARACTERS OF THE PARTS O* 1 



FRUCTIFICATION. 



THE parts of Fructification, with their subdivi- 

 sions, having been explained separately in the pre- 

 ceding chapters, we shall here give a view of them 

 altogether, with the proper distinguishing character 

 assigned to each by Linnaeus, beginning with the 

 vegetable itself 



The essence of the vegetable consists in its Fruc- 

 tification: The essence of the fructification consists 

 in the Flower and Fruit : The essence of the flower 

 consists in the Anther ae and Stigma: The essence 

 of the fruit consists in the Seeds. We come now to 



THE PARTS. 



POLLEN, is a dust of vegetables, designed to burst 

 in a liquor appropriated to that purpose ; and to dis- 

 charge therein, by its elastic force, a substance not 

 distinguishable by the naked eye. 



A SEED, is a deciduous part of a plant, fraught 

 with the rudiment -of .a new plant, and quickened by 

 the pollen. 



ANTHERA, is a vessel that produces and discharges 

 the pollen. 



PERICARPIUM, is a vessel that produces and dis- 

 charges the seeds. 



FIL AMENTUM, is the foot th,at supports the An- 

 thera, and fastens it to the vegetable. 



GERM EN, is the rudiment of the Pericarp! um or of 

 the Semen, not yet arrived at maturity ; its existence 

 is chiefly at the time when the Anthera is discharging 

 its pollen. 



STIGMA, is the moistened summit of the Germen. 



STYLUS, is the foot of the Stigma, that connects it 

 with the Germen. 



