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The Almond of the river of the Amazons, known by the name of Totoca, 
is inclosed in two shells, exactly similar to those of our oyster. Another 
fruit growing on the banks of the same river, which abounds in almond 
trees, has a perfect resemblance, in colour and form, to an earthen pot with 
a small lid; * it goes by the name of the Monkey s Porridge Pot. Others are 
formed into large bottles, as the fruit of the large Gourd. Some are inclosed 
in a coat of wax, which makes them float; such are the berries ol the Wax 
Tree , or Royal Pimenta , found on the shores of Louisiana. The formidable 
apple of the Manchineel , which grows on the sea coast of the islands situated 
between the tropics, and the fruit of the Mangrove , which actually grows 
there in the salt water, are almost ligneous. There are others with shells, 
similar to the sea-urchin, without prickles. Many are coupled, and perform 
their voyage like the double canoe* or balse, of the South Sea. Such is the 
double Cocoa of the Sechelles Islands. 
If we examine the leaves, the stems, the attitudes, and the seeds of 
aquatic plants, we shall observe in them characters which have a relation to 
the places where they are destined to grow, and in harmony with each 
other; so that if the seed has a nautical form, its leaves are deprived of an 
aqueduct; just as in mountain plants, if the seed is volatile, the peduncle of 
the leaf, or the leaf altogether, represents a channel. 
I shall assume, as an instance of the nautical harmonies of plants, the 
Nasturtium, with which every one is acquainted. This plant, which bears 
flowers so agreeable, is one of the cresses found near the rivulets of Peru. 
It must be observed first that the foot-stalks of its leaves have no conduit, 
like those of all aquatic plants; they are inserted in the middle of the leaf, 
which they support like an umbrella, to shelter them from the water that 
falls from the heavens. Its seed, when fresh, has exactly the form of a boat. 
The upper part, which is raised, slopes like a bridge, to let the water run 
off; and one may clearly distinguish in the lower part, a poop and a prow, 
a keel and a bottom. ( See the annexed Plate.) The small furrows of the 
seed of the Nasturtium are characterizing marks, common to most nautical 
seeds, as well as the triangular forms, and those of the kidney or keel. 
These furrows undoubtedly prevent them from rolling about in all direc¬ 
tions, constrain them to float along lengthwise, and give them that direction 
best adapted to the course of the water, and for passing through the nar- 
See engravings of most of those seeds in John de Laet’s <c History of the West Indies.’" 
