VFCGETABLE STRUCTURE. 
1 S9 
It is for this reafon Nature has given the protection of a defence to them 
all lodging them within the body of the Plant, or covering tnem with 
Membranes. In the common Mufhrooms, whofe Seeds have been faid 
to lie naked on the Gills, fome have them placed in clufters, others fing- 
ly : in the former kind I have always found them covered with a Mem- 
brane } and the latter, tho’ it be lels diftinCt, I think they have it. In the 
Boleti there is a fpungy Membrane, which lines every Tnhe, and within 
this the Seeds are generated, breaking thro’ it only as they I'well. This is 
firange, becaufe in both thefe inftances the Male Flow’ers Band naked at a 
dillance on the verge of the Tube, or the very edge of the Gill: but the 
delicate Farina of thefe eafily pierces the natural openings in thofe Mem- 
branes, and then the Seeds iwelling burd them, in the Hydnum they are 
covered with a kind of Tube, which is only a more delicate Membracie. 
In the Phallus, which approaches more to the Truffle, they are buried in 
a tough fubdance, which covers the head, and are only feen when it melts 
in decay, and becomes a liquor. In the Clathrus, dill nearer the Truffle, 
they are lodged in the very central fubdance w’hich fills the cavity of that 
Net in the original date. In the Elvela they lie under a very evident Mem- 
brane on the farfice, which originally forms the upper Coat of the Plant, 
and which being pierced by their innumerable heads when they ripen, 
dries away, and lets them out in dud. In the Pcziza they are abfolute 
Fruits, in which the Seeds lie covered perfectly. In the Clavaria the Seeds 
are formed under the upper Coat, as in the Elvela. And in the Lycoper- 
don, to which the lated fydems join the Tuber, the Seeds are contained in 
the abfolute fubdance of the Plant, w'hich is originally enclofed w'ithin three 
firm Rinds, and is itfelf of a tough confidence : but as the Seeds ripen, 
this intermediate matter dries away into thin Films and Fibres; and leaves 
them in a fine powder, free to the air. 
These are the edablilhed Genera of the Mudiroom kind ; for they err 
greatly who refer the Plants which make mouldinefs to the fame name. In 
all thefe the Seeds are covered in the Plant ; in the Phallus and Lycoperdon, 
they are abfolutely contained in a Flefhy Subdance. 
It is thus Nature has lodged them in the Truffle, which is the mod 
flelhy of all the Mudirooms, and its condruClion is this. 
We fee a round, or nearly round ball, whofe furface is compofed of a 
kind of points, each compofed of four parts, and divided by lour ridges 
raifed above the Skin, and placed like rays of a Star: i, 2. It is evident 
to fight, in the fredi-cut Truffle, that this Bark is didinCl from the 
FleOi 
