14 DEFINITIONS OF THE PARTS OF FLOWERS. 



ate peduncles*, proceeding from the same universal centre, but 

 with irregular partial ones. 



V. Spadix is the receptacle of a palmf, produced within a 

 spaiha, or sheath, on the branches that bear fruit. 



CHAP. IX. 



OF THE DISTINCT CHARACTERS OF THE PARTS OF 

 FRUCTIFICATION. 



THE parts of fructification, with their subdivisions^ having 

 been explained separately in the preceding chapters, we shall 

 here give a view of them all together, with the proper distin- 

 guishing character assigned to -each by Linnieus, beginning with 

 the vegetable itself. 



The essence of the vegetable consists in its fructification ; ...the 

 essence of the fructification consists in the flower and fruit ;.. .the 

 essence of the flower consists in the antherce and stigma ;.. .the es- 

 sence of the fruit consists in the seeds. We shall give now a short 

 definition of THESE PARTS. 



Pollen is the fine powder of vegetables, designed to burst in 



* Peduncles, flower-stalks, are called fastigiate, when their lengths are so pro- 

 portioned, that the flowers which they support form an even surface. Authob. 



•j- This is the proper sense of the term, as employed by the ancients : but spadix , 

 is now used in a more general sense, viz. to express all flower-stalks that come out 

 of a spatha. See the note on this subject in Chap. II, This definition, by Linnwxis, 

 therefore, appears to be too strict. Author. 



