224 Of Vegetables . 
than the feed within it, and confifts of bladders radiated 
towards the feat of the feed, and thefe difpofed in parallel 
lines running lengthwife. 
But the greateft number of feeds with bulky covers, 
are divided into two lobes. In the purging nut of angola, 
if the fhell be taken off, the upper covers, (dried and 
flirunk up) feem to be but one : in thefe the fpermatic 
veffels are branched, and under them the thick and in- 
moft cover; which being cut down the middle thereof, 
Ihews the true feed, confifting of two veined leaves, as 
white as milk, joined together with the Hem or radicle at 
their bafe, and funk into a hollow made in the cover. 
The fame is alfo obfervable in the Barbadoe nuts, ricinus, 
Americanus, and fome other Indian fruits. 
In the foregoing fruits, the bulky is very foft, but in 
nux vomica officinarum, it is nearly as hard as a date 
ftone j in this, and the foregoing, the feeds are large, 
but in others are fo fmall, that they are fcarce difcernable 
without a microfcope, as in ftaphifagria. The thick or 
inmoft cover is conical towards the bafe, at whofe point 
is a little cavity where the feed is lodged \ the root thereof 
pointed, and lobes rounded at the top. In peony the 
fame cover is foft, white, and of an oval figure, the part 
ufed for medicine is thought to be the feed itfelf, but is 
near two hundred times bigger than the true feed; which 
lies in a little cavity near the bottom of the cover, with 
a blunt root, and two pointed lobes. 
In coffee-berries, the feed lies in the inner cover, near 
the top ; the back of the lobes are veined like two minute 
leaves, and joined to a long root. 
The feed of ftramonium is inclofed in a bulky cover, 
which being foaked in water, and carefully cut about the 
edges with a fharp razor or penknife, its feed may be 
taken out entire, and examined by the microfcope. 
Of 
