168 
THE STUDY OF BOTANY. 
explained, for the information of the young tyro, to whom these ex¬ 
planations of the Linnsean Sexu'al System of Botany are humhly 
addressed. I have here subjoined a descriptive plan of the way the 
impregnation of the germen is performed. The Anthera which at the 
first opening of the flower is whole, hursts open soon after, and dis¬ 
charges the pollen, which dispersing itself about the flower, part of 
it lodges on the surface of the stigma, where it is detained by the 
moisture, with which that part is covered, and each single grain or 
atom of the pollen, bursting and dissolving in this liquor, discharges 
something that impregnates the germen below. 
5. Pericarpium, (seed vessel) is the germen grown to maturity; 
Linnaeus defines it to be an entrail of the plant big with seed, which 
it discharges when ripe. It is of eight kinds, viz.: 
1. Capsula, capsule, is a hollow pericarpium, which cleaves or 
parts in some determinate manner. It is composed of: 
a Valvula, an opening, a part of the capsule or outer cover to the 
fruit. 
b Loculamentum, a kind of arched cell, for the lodgement of the 
seeds. 
c Dissepimentum, partitions of the fruit, which divide the peri¬ 
carpium into cells. 
d Columnella, a little column, the substance that passes through 
the capsule, and connects the various partitions and seeds. 
2. Siliqua, a pod, is a pericarpium of two valves, where the seeds 
are fastened to both sutures or joining of the valves. 
3. Legumen, a pod, also, where the seeds are joined to one suture 
only. 
4. Drupa, a pulpy, or fleshy pericarpium without valve, contain¬ 
ing a stone, as in Prunus. a Succulenta containing a pulpy hu¬ 
mour. b Sicca, opposite to the foregoing, dry. 
5. Pomum, a pulpy or fleshy pericarpium without valve, contain¬ 
ing a capsule as in Py'rus. 
6. Bacca, a berry, a pulpy or fleshy pericarpium without a valve, 
wherein the seeds have no other covering, as in Rubus. 
7. Strobulus, a pericarpium, formed of an Amentum, (Catkin,) 
with hard scales lying over each other, as in the pine tree. 
8. Folliculus, a pericarpium of one valve gaping lengthways, 
without having the seeds fastened to the suture. 
6. Semina, seed, which, according to the definition of Linneeus, 
is a deciduous part of the vegetable; the rudiments of a new one 
quickened for vegetation, by the sprinkling of the pollen. It is of 
three kinds. 
