32 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1744. 



After having repeated the experiments, then made, on plants and seeds of this 

 year, he finds no reason to alter any thing there mentioned, either as to the la- 

 mellae or chives on the concave side of the umbella, being the siliquae or seed- 

 vessels ; or the seeds falling from thence to a lodgement wisely prepared for it on 

 the middle of the caulis, and from thence easily sliding to the earth contiguous 

 to the mother-plant ; or as to its propagation by fibrous runners, or stolones, like 

 potatoes ; all which, these following new observations suflRciently confirm. 



1 . On examination of several lamellae, he not only distinctly observed seeds, of 

 size and colour proportionable to the maturity of the plant, lodged in them, but 

 also a siliquaceous aperture, with a row of seeds ready to fall through it ; which 

 is a very evident proof, that each distinct chive is a siliqua or seed-vessel. 



2. On observation of the filament situated on the middle of the caulis, on which, 

 he before observed, he at first discovered the seed, he found both its contexture 

 and situation evidently demonstrating the end for which the wise Creator placed it 

 there ; viz. to intercept the seeds in their fall to the ground ; by which the power 

 which the wind would otherwise have on such minute bodies is lessened, and the 

 seed, with little or no dissipation, securely directed near the stem of its mother-plant. 

 For this filament is indented and pappous, to catch and lodge the seed as it falls from 

 the siliqua ; and is at first rigid, and standing horizontal to the umbella or head, 

 and at right angles with the caulis ; by which few or no seeds can fall without 

 being intercepted : but as the plant comes nearer to its decay, this filament re- 

 lents, falls dowTi close to the sides of the caulis ; and its several indentures then 

 making parallel lines with the fibres of the stalk, the seeds are conveyed through 

 them, as through little ducts or channels, to the ground. 



It is fiirther to be observed, that this filament is not of so succulent a contex- 

 ture as the siliqua or seed-vessel ; so that the seeds, which would otherwise rot 

 in the siliqua, are here retained in full health, till the period of their falling to 

 the ground. 



3. On examination of the caulis in several sections, he found the mushroom a 

 plant more perfect than has been thought. It has a perfect radix ; a caulis con- 

 sisting of fibres, the interstices of which are filled up by a parenchymous sub- 

 stance, leading from the radix to the umbella or head : it has its semen and sili- 

 quae, and more regular periods of vegetation than is supposed. The common 

 opinion of a mushroom's springing up in a night, and perishing in a day, has no 

 foundation in fact. He had some near a fortnight old, and yet but just arrived 

 to a fitness for the table. 



4. On examination of several mushrooms, exposed to the open air, but kept 

 from the injuries of the sun and rain, he found no animalcula bred in them, nor 

 yet a tendency to putrefaction ; though they had been exposed thus for a week. 

 On the other hand, on examining a mushroom, very far from being full grown, 



