[ 264 ] 
that lead to the germen cannot be afcertalned ; they 
probably vary according to the number of loculaments 
to be fupplied ; more than one was commonly ob- 
fervable with the corpufcles paffing in clofe hies 
through them, as has already been defcribed. In 
the piftillaof flowers in bud, no corpufcles could be 
difcovered j which is a hrong proof that they are re- 
ceived from the pollen, and deftined for the im- 
pregnation. 
Upon examining the pappus or down that crowns 
the ieeds in the clafs Syngenefia, the hairs of the 
pappus were found to be hollow, and filled with the 
lame corpufcles (Figure 24). How the corpufcles 
are admitted into them, or for what purpole they 
are lodged there, muft be left to further enquiry ; 
in the mean time, it may be obferved, that the fitu- 
ation of the pappus makes it improbable that the 
corpufcles fhould be received therein for the purpofe 
of conveying them to the germen j and that there- 
fore it is more natural to fuppofe, that the corpufcles 
arrive there after their palTage thro’ the germen, and 
that the hairs of the pappus ferve as excretory velTels 
for taking off thofe that were ufclefs to the impreg- 
nation. This is the more probable, as the great 
quantity of them brought by the dudts mull; doubt- 
lefs occafion fuch a fuperfluity. 
Upon examining various plants of the order Filices, 
of the clafs Cryptogamia, no male organs could be 
difcovered. If the flowers of thefe plants be herma- 
phroditic, the ftaminiferous part doubtlefs falls off as 
icon as the impregnation is over, as it does in other 
cafes ; fo that if the male organs are not fought for 
at the precife time when the plant is in bloom, the 
fearch 
5 
