VEGETABLE STRUCTURE, 
H7 
ing. It does not fill the Stalk, for there Is a large hollow in the center; 
acrofs which ftretch fome few draggling Fibres. 
From the fiirface of the Fiefliy Subdance of the Root, within the cir- 
cle made by the bafe of the Stalk, rife up, as in the Leaf-Stalk, the Conic 
Clufters of VelTels : they are very large, and confpicuous ; there were fix 
of thefe in the Leaf-Stalk ; but in this Stem of the Flower they a: e twelve. 
Each is compofed of a great number of Vedels, fome white, and others 
yellowifh ; containing alfo a yellowifh thick fluid. Nature has more to do 
in this Stem than the other ; for a Flower as well as a Leaf are to arife 
from it. 
As the Stalk advances higher, the hollow In the center becomes lefj ; but 
thefe Veflels diminifli very little, and they preferve their diflindt number, 
only as that grows fmaller they ceme elefe together. 
At the head of the Stalk, where it is not one fourth the bignefs that 
it has at the bale, thefe twelve Veflels crowd upon one another; for their 
diminution in diameter being very little, and that of the Stalk confiderably 
great, they are here prefled fo near, that they touch. See Fig. 5. Juft 
below the origination of the Leaf is the fmallefl; part of the whole Flower- 
ing Stalk, and there thefe cluflers of Veflels are not only prefled much 
clofer, but they unite into one uniform fubfcance : and in this form they 
afeend to the Receptacle of the Flower. 
In tracing the courfe of the fix fubflances of which the Stalk is formed, 
we find them in the following order. 
The outer Bark of the Root having terminated in the Scabbards at the 
bafe of the Stem, the fix remaining fubflances only can form the Plant. 
Of thefe the inner Rind of the Root being now become the outer Coat of 
the Stalk, continues its courfe up to the Leaf, Fig. i. c, where it termi- 
nates entirely. The Leaf is formed of this whole Coat expanded, and of 
a portion of the Blea, and fome branches of the Conic Cluflers; all unit- 
ing, and fpreading outward, and dividing into fix principal parts, with 
feveral fubdivifions ; inftead of continuing their upright courfe, in form of 
a Stalk. Indeed this horizontal diredion which the Rind, with the other 
fubflances, takes in the place of its firfl: perpendicular one, is not fo fud- 
denly performed as may be imagined. At firfl the Rind terminates at this 
place, and fpreads in breadth, and forms the Leaf : but that Leaf is con- 
tinued in the fame diredion that the Rind was upon the Stalk, and makes 
the original covering of the Flower. 
This Rind, tho’ it appears a Ample fubflance to the naked eye, is, in- 
deed,_compofed of three parts, a central Vafcular Subflance, and two in- 
U 2 vefling 
