VEGETABLE STRUCTURE. 
182 
the Inner conn:ru<5tIon of Plants was neceffary to the eftablifhlng a true no- 
tion of the origination and ufes of their external parts; in the fame man- 
ner, a jurt; fenfe of the differences of thofe parts themfelves, is needful to 
the underftanding the charadters of thofe primary divifions into Families, 
which are natural, and to which all others are fubordinate, we fhall there- 
fore firil: enter into a detail of thofe external parts, and from thence pro- 
ceed to the Characters of thefe feven arrangements. 
The general and obvious parts of Plants are four: the Root, the Stalk, 
tile Leaves, the Flower ; but there are others very important in their na- 
ture and office, tho’ they were lefs regarded in the earlier times of Botany, 
thefe the great Swede hrft brought to the World’s eye; and upon thefe he 
has founded often his Specifick, and fometimes his Generical DiftinCtions. 
Many of them had not been obferved till he difcovered them ; and others, 
tho’ they could not but be obvious, were fo perfeClly flighted in the ac- 
counts of Plants, that they wanted even names. Thefe vve fhall enume- 
rate, and dilVmguiffi b.ere, under the confideration of the Parts of Plants : 
their utility in SyFcms will be fliewn hereafter. 
In confidering the Parts of Plants, Reafon direCls us firfl; to the Root ; 
becaufe it is the part firft formed from the Seed, and is the fource of all 
the red. 
The Ro:>t of a Plant is a Cafe or Shell of the Flefhy Subftance, lined 
with a Pith, and covered with a Blea, and two Rinds ; and is naturally 
buried under the ground. Immediately within this Shell of Flefli run 
the Conic Cinders of VefTcls, which conditute the Ribs of the fucceeding 
Leaves ; and dole upon its furface creep the Vafcular Series, fecreting 
that wavy matter which coats the Embryo in the Farina of the Flower. 
Th'S is a Root wliatevcr be its form ; whether long or fhort, tuberous 
or librous, perpendicular or horizontal : but Bulbs do not come under 
this denomination ; they are of various kinds, and different nature ; the 
coated Bulbs arc Buds, the folid are Placentae; there is always a Root 
b-fde. 
The office of the Pvoot is to produce all the other parts of the Plant, 
by evtcnfions of that Flefhy Shell, which is its effential part. This forms 
by Precedes from its furface Fibres downwards, and Stalks upward. It 
f;rd no rilhes the Seminal or Radical Leaves, by food drawn in at its 
Fibres ; and is afterwards itfelf in part nouriffied by thofe Leaves it had 
produced ; and fed fo, that it is able to raife the Stalk for Flowering, and 
producing of new Embryo Plants. 
The 
