Sl aa a Se oe 
Book IV. of Flowers. 173 
RR A Fa aa I TE TTT mre rraam ene ee ES 
9: §. And that thefe Particles, only by falling on the Userus: 
fhould communicate to it or to the Sap therein, a Prolifich Virtue s it 
may feem the more credible, from the manner wherein Coition is made 
by fome Avimals; asby many Birds, where there is no Intron {fion, 
but only an Adofculation of Parts : And fo in many Fijbes. Neither 
in others, doth the Pesis ever enter any farther than the Neck of the 
Womb. Nor doth perhaps the semenit felf: or if it doth, it can by no 
means be thought, bodily or as to its gro Subftance, to enter the Mem. 
branes, in which every Conception, or the Liquor intended for it, be- 
fore any Coztion, is involved; but only fome fubtle and vivifich Efflu. 
via, to which the vifible Body of the Semen, isbut a Vehicle. And the 
like Efflaviz may be very eafily transfuled from the above {aid Particles 
into the Seed-Café or Womb ofa Plant. 
to. §. If any one fhall require the Siniilitude to hold in every 
Thing 5 he would not have a Plant to refemble, but to be, an Avimal. 

Gr AP. Vial 
Of the Time of the Generation of the Flower. 
Be HE Time in which the Flower is Generated or For: 
_ med isa Providence in Nature, whereof, I doa lit. 
tle wonder, that no one, among{t fo many obfer- 
vers of Plants, hath ever yet taken any notice. It js 
be therefore to be remarked, That all Flowers are for- 
& med or perfectly finifhed, in all their Parts, long 
Case before they appear in fight; ufually Three or Four 
Months, and fometimes half a year, or more. And that in all Perey- 
nial Plants, thofe Flowers which appear and are called the Flowers of 
any one year; are not formed in that year; but were actually in 
Being, and entirely formed in all Parts, the year before ; as in many 
Herbs, and in all Shrubs and Trees. 
2. §. This will beft be feen by fome Inftances. So the Flower of 
Mezereow, which opens in Faxuary, 1s entirely formed about the midle 
of Augu/? in the year foregoing. At which time, the Greez Leaves of 
the Bud being cautioufly removed, the Leaves of the Flower, and the L4b. 63: 
Thece Seminiformes or Seed-like Attire, encompafling the Seed-Cafe, 
through an indifferent Gis, are all diftin@lly vifible. 
3. §. The like may be feenin Siryzge, and other Shrubs, and in 
Trees. Inas many of which, as are Frugiferous, the Fruit alfo, which 
an{wers to the Seed-Ca/é in other Plazts, is about the fame time entire- 
ly formed. 
4. §. Andfo in Herbs § as the Flower of Afarum, which appeareth 
in April or May, is entirely formed in Auguft or Fuly of the foregoing 
year. For there are here, as well as in Trees, Two Sorts of Buds; fome Tab.6 4s 
which are compofed only of Gree Leaves; and fome which alfo con- 
tein a Flower and the Seed-Café. Soin Bears-foot, by fome called the 
January Rofe, the Flower-Buds, which open in January are all formed 
in or before the Month of Avgu? in the year preceding. 

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