THE PARTS OF PEA NTS. 
375 
weed acquires its growth, and absorption is a constant 
action of the leaves. These observations render it proba- 
ble, that there is a circulation of the juices; and if there 
be, the vessels which perforin it, we may reasonably be- 
lieve, accompany each other through every part of their 
course. 
A perfect plant is composed of a root, of a stem with its 
branches, of leaves, flower, and fruit ; for in Botany, by fruit, 
in herbs as well as in trees, we understand the whole fabric 
of the seed. But there is a principal part which requires an 
examination more at large ; the fructification, that is, the 
flower and the fruit. For on this part Linnseus has founded 
his celebrated System of Botany. To understand this, lake 
a lilv, for instance. Before it opens, there is evidently, at 
the top of the stem, an oblong greenish bud, which grows 
whiter the nearer it is to opening ; and when it is quite open, 
we perceive that the white cover takes the form of a basin, 
or vase, divided into several segments. This is called the 
corolla , and not the flower, as it is by the vulgar; because 
the flow'er is a composition of several parts, of which the 
corolla is only the principal. 
The corolla of the lily is not of one piece. When it 
withers and falls, it separates into six distinct pieces, which 
are called petals. A corolla, consisting of several pieces 
like this, is called a polypelalous corolla. If it were all of 
one piece, like the bell-flower, or bind-weeds, it would be 
called monopetalous. 
Exactly in the middle of the corolla is a sort of little co- 
lumn rising from the bottom, and pointing directly upwards. 
This, taken in its whole, is called the pistil , or pointal: 
taken in its parts, it is divided into three. 1. The swollen 
base, with three blunted angels, called the perm, or ovary. 
c 2. A thread placed upon this, called the style. 3. The style 
crowned by a sort of capital, with three notches : this 
capital is called the stigma. 
Between the pistil and the corolla of the lily, there are six 
other bodies, entirely separate from each other, which are 
called the stamens. Each stamen is composed of two parts 
one long and thin, by which it is fastened to the bottom of 
the corolla, and called th q filament ; the other thicker, placed 
at the top of the filament, and called ant hern , or anther. 
Each anther is a box which opens when it is ripe, and throws 
out a yellow dust, which has a strong smell ; this is called 
pollen , ox farina. 
Such is the general analysis of the parts which constitute 
a flower. As the corolla fades and falls, the germ increases, 
and becomes an oblong triangular capsule, within which are 
