202 The seven VEGETABLE FAMILIES. 
The Hood, Fig. i, a a, has no connedllon with the Head j it is mere- 
ly a defence. It is a continuation of the Rind of the Stalk, and nothing 
elfe. It rifes at the Neck of that Lump into which the Stalk fwells at its 
fummir, Fig. dd\ and being very thin in that part, it hurds and tears 
away there when the Head fwells ; and having performed its office of de- 
fending the Head while young, it falls off, and fades away. The purple 
Plumule, at its point, Fig. ly e e, which to an unwary eye might feem 
a S'igma, is nothing more than the withered extremity of the Rind of the 
Stalk. This Rind form- a Knot, or fwelling, at the fummir, and termi- 
nates finally in this lengthened and twilled Cord. Tlie Head has all its 
parts of frudlification in itfelf. 
The thick lump of Flefhy funflance which crowns the Stalk, is pro- 
perly the Receptacle of the Frudlification : this rifes into a kind of Fruir, 
as in tlie figure, fee Fig. 2, and is not unlike to it in fliape j but in this 
minute Plant there is yet a feparate Capfule within it. The hollow body 
within the cavity of the Head, is this Capfule, and it is filled with Rudi- 
ments of Seeds. The radiated Cover, g gy is a Crown of Antheraj, which, 
when more ripe, and open to the air, will feparate, and fhew themfelves 
loaded with a fine Farina. This falling on the young Seeds, impregnates 
them, and they are then fit for growth. 
In the Plant in this flowering ftate, thefe Anthers are but imperfedt- 
ly diflinguiflied : they rife from the verge of the Head, and bending in- 
wards at the point, form a kind of low green Cone, Fig. i. c. When 
the hood is fallen off, they harden and grow brown ; they flart at the Points, 
and then feparate at the fides ; and are foon diflindt throughout. Fig. jyf. 
Each is a flat Pyramid riling from the Ring formed at the top of the Head, 
without any Footflalk. The entire Crown is reprefented magnified at 
Fig. 4, and a Angle ray of it at 5. 
The fubflance of thefe rays is reticulated, like all the refl of the Plant, 
and they are covered with a delicate Membrane. The Farina is lodged 
in a kind of Chains, Fig. 4, <7 ^ round the fubflance of the Anthers 
in many places. Thefe Chains are formed of fmall oval Particles, fee Fig. 5 : 
thefe are the Globules of the Farina, inclofed in a Angle Membrane, which 
keep them at a diflance from one another : fee Fig. 6. They are thus 
doubly, indeed trebly fecured from the injuries of the air, while they 
fire taking their growth ; firfl by the Calyptra, or loofe Hood, which co- 
vers the whole Crown or range of the Anthers themfelves j then with- 
in the outer Film of the Anthera, the chains of Globules being lodged be- 
tween the Coat and Subfiance, fee 5 j and finally by the Membrane, 
3 which 
