VEGETABLE STRUCTURE. 
4 ^ 
each, with five fmall filaments in every flower. Thefe are the Umbelli- 
ferous Plants. The mofl; minute parts of their flowers agree in this num- 
ber, and this is again the character and difliiuftion of another multitude of 
Plants j all of which agree in every particular of this conftrudtion ; ard 
differ by it from all others. Certain other Plants produce their feeds in 
little Pods, and have four of the fmall filaments which fupport the anthers 
in their flowers longer than the others : flight as this mark appears, it is 
mofl: conftant. Thefe are the Siliquofe Plants : and this is, as the preced- 
ing, the charadter by which a large affortment of Herbs differ from ano* 
ther great affortment or clafs ; not one from all the reft. 
There can be no doubr, but the ftrudfure of the veflels of the Plants 
occafions this difference in their forms : for there is no other caufe ; and 
nothing is effedted without one : but we fee alfo, that thefe arrangements 
of Plants, as they are fepara ed from all others by thofe charadfers, have 
alfo their peculiar and appropriated virtues ; common among then^fclves, 
and diftinguiflaing them from others. Thus, all the Graffes and Corns are 
efculent ; the leaves are food for cattle ; and the feeds for the human 
fpecies, and for a variety of other animals. The Umbelliferous are warni 
and aromatick, and the Siliquofe Plants are acrid and deobflruent. Thefe 
obfervations hold generally true ; and the fame agreement of virtues in 
thofe Plants which have the fame charadlers of diftindtion, will, I believe, 
be found throughout the whole Vegetable Syflem, when a true natural 
method fhall be eftablifhed. This agreement of Plants of the fame clafs 
in their virtues, has been obferved by many ; but the great and pdain truth 
which it may teach, feems to have been overlooked entirely. It is allow- 
ed, that Plants have very diftindt forms: it is allowed alfo, that this dif- 
tindlion of form depends folely on, and arifes only from the different con- 
flrudtion of their veflels : we find Plants which have a like conflrudtion of 
veffels, have like marks of diftindtion from them ; and that they have the 
fame virtues : does it not follow, that as the form common to fj many, 
depends upon the peculiar conflrudtion of thofe Plants, fo do their virtues ; 
which thofe of the fame. form, that is of the fame vafcular conflrudtion, 
poflefs alfo in common ? 
This brings us to the Point whence we fet out. The Matter which 
compofes Plants is the fame in all the kinds : it is arranged into as many 
forms as God created Species in the beginning of things ; to which there 
has not been one addition fince, nor one loft from the number : according 
to the arrangement of this common Matter, it acquires peculiar qualities 
VoL. I. G and 
