PLACENTATION OF PLANTS. 



441 



be in respect to various circumstances, as placentation, radica- 

 tion, ramification, intorsion, gemmation, foliation, stipulation, pu- 

 bescence, glandulation, lactescence, inflorescence, &c. As each of 

 the terms here enumerated will furnish us with a separate chap- 

 ter, we shall forbear the explanation of them here. 



CHAP. XL 



OF PLACENTATION. 



BY Placentation* is meant the disposition of the cotyledons 

 at the time when the seed is beginning to grow. Plants, in re- 

 spect to placentation, are termed, 



I. Acotyledones, without cotyledons, when this part is want- 

 ing, as in Mosses. 



same genus, nor have any systematic affinity, will often have a great conformity in 

 their habit ; whilst those of the same genus will have their habits distinct. The 

 habits of plants was the invention of the earlier botanists, who knew no better rule 

 for the distribution of vegetables : and, indeed, Linnceus himself is induced to ad- 

 mit, that it is often a good guide ; and that Casper Bauhine, and others, had in 

 many cases discovered the affinity of plants by the habit, when systematists had 

 failed in attempting the same by their artificial rules ; nor does he think even 

 the fructification, which is the invention of the moderns, sufficient for detecting all 

 the classes of vegetables, though lie considers it as the primary guide to the natu- 

 ral method so much sought after by those who have cultivated this science. 



Author. 



* The cotyledons of the seed in vegetables answer the purpose of the placenta 

 in the animal oeconomy; and hence the disposition of the cotyledons is called pla- 

 ntation. Author. 



