( 368 ) 
fcolopendrium), from it's fize, will mow the 
fructification more diftinitly ; the firft appear- 
ances of which, that can be obferved, are 
fome little bags, or cafes of a yellowifh or 
whitifh green colour, placed in rows on the 
imder fide of the leaves ; if thefe are opened, 
almofl: as foon as they become vifible, there 
will be found capfules, or feed-vefTels, very 
numerous, {landing upright, and clofe toge- 
ther. At this time they appear to be of a 
green colour ; as they approach towards ma- 
turity, they change this for a dark brown; 
at which period the cafes open lengthways 
in the middle, and by the protrufion of the 
capfules, the two fides are turned quite back, 
and wholly difappear ; this membranous fub- 
ftance may be confidered as the fame with 
the calyx in other plants, and Serves to de- 
fend the tender capfules with their feed till 
ripe, when their curious mechanifm ftrikes us 
with grateful aftoniftimcnt at the benevolent 
and adeouate care that nature takes of the 
minuteft of her works. Each capfule confifts 
of three parts, the foot-ftalk, which fup-* 
ports and connects them to the leaf*; the 
* See Plate Third of the Second Tart. 
jointed 
