FRUCTIFICATION OF THE CRYPTOGAMS. $ 



former letter, in saying, that the spiral wire was found only 

 in the conferva of all this class of plants. But I had so often 

 sought it in all the sea weeds, and in the lichens, without 

 discovering the smallest traces of it ; that I felt convinced it 

 was not there. As it-is found in the male plant only, few 

 would undertake the labour that is necessary to find it. In 

 the mosses however it abounds, and in the woody part of^ otl . on ,. , 



J ' the sign whicar 



the lichens also; and particularly distinguishes the male distinguishes 

 plant, whether single or joined to the female, by its never- the stamen ' 

 ceasing motion. So violent is it often, that it is with great 

 difficulty that it can be confined sufficiently for inspection, 

 especially when first taken from within the flower. This 

 alone makes a very distinguishing mark of the male in all 

 the cryptogamia, for the female is quite inert. When its 

 size has permitted me to take out the spiral wire, it leaves 

 the rest of the plant perfectly quiet. I have therefore in 

 various cases absolutely ascertained, that it is this alone 

 which is the cause of motion in all plants. 



That the fructification should have been continually* mis- Why the fruc- 

 taken by those, who had no other rule but mere guess to £ e ^ |°P_ as 

 which they could apply for the discovery, cannot appear taken, 

 astonishing to any oue ; since, not knowing the interior for* 

 mation, they could neither appeal to its analogy, with respect 

 toother plants ; nor to any means except the appearance and 

 figure. But, as I have long been accustomed to be led up 

 to the female by a peculiar line ; I sought this in all the 

 cryptogamia, and directly found it. It was not indeed Search of the 

 quite so easy to discover in the male plant; but remember- the male! 18 

 ing, that the wood in all other plants formed the stamen ; 

 and that I had every reason to be convinced, as there was a 

 peculiar juice for the formation of the pollen, there must be 

 some vessel to convey this : this idea excited my diligence 

 in seeking it, and I soon succeeded; and not only found 

 the wood vessel meandering from male to male, but disco- 

 vered, that in this class the spiral vessels always accompa- 

 nied it as in every other plant. It is of extreme consequence 

 to trace these lines in the cryptogamia? ; since without them 

 it is impossible, that any person can be assured, that the 

 male and female, if separate, belong to the samepknt; 

 whereas the running of the wood vessels from part to part 



will 



