VEGETABLE STRUCTURE. 
184 
into the fide and middle Ribs again. The Circulation of Blood, and Inof- 
culation of the Veflcls in animal bodies, before a Microfcope, are not 
more palpable, or difbnd-, than thofe of the Veffels of this Leaf to the 
naked eye. If any doubts the fyftern here eftablifhed, let him read in 
that Plant its confirmation. We are not to fuppofe that the Juice from 
thefe returning Vefiels is thrown into the fime Vefle’s which contain the 
afcending part ; that would create confufion. Each fide Rib is compofed 
of Vefiels } fome of which carry up the Juice to that Cord furrounding 
the Leaf, and. others receive it returning from thofe inofculations. Na- 
ture fcarce affords an object more beautiful. 
The Stalk of a Plant is a tubular portion of the Flefii of the 
Rco‘, lined with its own Pith and Conic Clufiers, and coated with its 
VafcuUir Series, Blea, and two Rinds. It raifes the Flower into the free 
air, and gives the fucceeding Seeds to its power to fcatter. 
This is a kind of Root above ground, nourifhed, indeed, from the 
Root below, but like that producing all the external parts of a Vegetable 
Body. It has Leaves, whofe origin, ftrudture, and ofiice, are the fame 
witl) thofe from the Root ; and it terminates in a Pdower ; its feveral parts 
dividing, and, when feparated from one another, forming the organs of 
the Plowcr, the embryo Plant in the Farina, and the defending Seed. 
The Stalk gives place and origin allb to feveral of thofe parts, to which 
the new Botany lias adapted names, and w'hich it has received into the 
number of fpecifick Difiindions. The mofi: confiderable are thofe Spines 
which arm the furface of many Shrubs and Plants. Thefe are of two 
kinds, and have dillindl names according to the conflituent part of the 
Plant from whence they take their origin. When the Spine arifes from 
the Wood, it is called Spina ; when from the Bark, Aculeus. We may 
in our language keep up the difiindion, calling that which is fixed to the 
wood a Thoun, and that which rifes from the Bark, a Prickle. 
The Hairs of Plants are next to be confidered as appendages of the 
Stalk ; tho’ common alfo to the Leaves, in many Plants: thefe when they 
are permanent, afford marks of diftindion. Their office is to difeharge 
abundant moifiure, when the nourifiiing Juice has been fecreted from it. 
From the Stalk alfo rife in many Plants a peculiar kind of thin fub- 
fiances furrounding the bafes of the Footftalks of the Leaves. We fee 
thefe in the Rofe bufh, and in Peafe : They are different and diflind 
from Leaves, tho’ in fome few inftances they fupply the place of them j 
as in the Aphaca, or Yellow Vetch. The Term for thefe is Stipulae; 
we may call them Films. 
From 
