FRUCTIFICATION OF THE CRYPTOGAMS. 3 



tify the identity of every other part. Thus, by tracing the Stamen and 

 vital line, the seed, the bud, the flower, the radicle, are ff^JJ* 8 ** 

 all ascertained and proved. The interior vessel of the 

 pistil is formed by this line alone, which, being a cylinder, 

 conveys the mixed juices to the seeds. 1 have shown this 

 before in all other plants, but it is to the cryptogamia I 

 trust for completing the proof of all I have before advanced 

 on this subject. Its admirable conformity in the direction 

 of its vessels ; its agreeing in all points of the fructification, 

 not only with each genus of this class, but with all others ; 

 establishes (in my opinion) the truth of both in an eminent 

 degree. I have said also, that the wood conveyed the pecu- 

 liar juice for the formation of the pollen: and I trust the 

 24th class will exemplify the truth of the fact; for in the 

 interior of these plants, and by the direction of those two 

 vessels, will botanists be alone able to discriminate and iden- 

 tify the stamen and pistil of these diminutive vegetables. 

 To prove this I shall first show the formation of marine 

 plants ; and then endeavour to explain the fructification of 

 the cryptogamia in general, and mark, by the direction of 

 the vessels, which is the stamen and pistil of each plant. 



Though the marine plants, (such as the fuci and ulvce), Interior for- 

 have the appearance of stems, yet in the greatest part f ™ auon of "*• 

 these plants it is appearance only. When subjected to the 

 strongest magnifiers, placing a thin cutting of each in a 

 solar microscope, they present exactly the same picture, ex- 

 cept that the stalk is thicker and more compressed than that 

 which is properly named leaves. As the sea weeds are al- 

 most without vessels, (at least have only two or three in a 

 large surface) they have of course no liquid of the nature of 

 sap to diffuse into different parts of the plant. This is 

 proved by one part drying and dying, though the adjoining 

 part is immersed in water ; the former not benefitting bf 

 this, as it has no vessels, that can convey the moisture; 

 which, I suppose, is given merely by pores at the surface, 

 and passes not from one bleb to the other. 



The fuci might be properly divided into thin and thick Division of th#- 

 fuci: The 1st, as the dulse, the palmatus, coccineus, and fuC1 ' 

 all of this kind, consists of that transparent and almost in- Structure of 

 visible skin doubled ; which, in all common leaves, makes a the *** fuc f" 



B2 pun 



