Nehemiah Grew

“ This part is not only in the Bean, and the Seeds above mentioned; but in all others: being that which upon the Vegetation of the Seed, becomes the Root of the Plant; which therefore I call the Radicle: by which, I mean the Materials, abating the Formality, of a Root, ’Tis not easie to be observed, saving in some few Seeds, amongst which, that of the Bean is the most fair and ample of all I have seen; but that of some other Seeds, is, in proportion, greater; as of Fœnugreek, which is almost as big as one of its Lobes. ”

“ The reason why the colour of the Plume, and especially of the Radicle, which is white, is so different from that of the Lobes, may chiefly depend upon their being more compact and dense, and thence their different Tinctures. And therefore the Lobes themselves, which are green while the Bean is [13] young; yet being old and dry, become whitish too. And in many other Seeds, as Acorns, Almonds, the Kernels of Apples, Plums, Nuts, &c. the Lobes, even fresh and young, are pure white as the Radicle it self. ”

“ Sap sufficient to the nutrition of its Parts next adjacent to them; yet those more inward, must needs be scanted of their Aliment; and so, if not quite starv’d, yet be uncapable of equal growth: Whereas the Lignous Body being through its whole breadth frequently disparted, and the Cortical Body inserted through it; the Sap by those Insertions, as the Blood by the disseminations of the Arteries, is freely and sufficiently convey’d to its intimate Parts, even those which from either the cortical Body or the Pith are most remote. ”

“ As to its standing in the trunk, ’tis alwayes betwixt the trunk or Elder Branch, and the Basis of the Stalk of the Leaf; whereby it is not only guarded from the Injuries of any contingent Violence, but also from the more piercing assaults of the Cold, so long till in time ’tis grown, as larger, so more hardy. ”

“ Through which Part the Sap passing towards the Seminal Root, as through that which is of a more spacious content; besides the benefit it hath of a farther percolation, it will also find room enough for a more free and active fermenting and maturation herein. And being moreover, part of the true Body of the Bean, and so with its proper Seminalities or Tinctures copiously repleat; the Sap will not only find room, but also matter enough, by whose Energy its Fermentation will still be more advanced. ”

“ For a piece of Cotton with one end immers’d in some tinged Liquor, and with the other erect above, though it will not imbibe the Liquor so far as to over-run at the top, yet so as to advance towards it, it will; so here, the Pith being a porous and spongy Body, and in its Vegetating state its Pores also permeable, as a curious Filtre of Natures own contrivance, it thus advanceth, or as people use to say, sucks up the Sap. ”

“ In a good part of the Radicle ’tis one entire Trunk; towards the Basis thereof, ’tis divided into three main Branches; the middlemost runneth directly into the Plume; the other two on either side it, after a little space, pass into the Lobes; where the said Branches dividing themselves into other smaller; and those into more, and smaller again, are terminated towards the Verges of each Lobe; in which manner the said inner Body being distributed, it becomes in each Lobe, a true and perfect Root. ”

“ In which growth, a proportion in length and breadth is requisite: which being rated by the benefit of the Plant, both for firm standing and sufficient Sap, must therefore [55] principally be in length. And because it is thus requisite, therefore by the constitution of one of its Parts, sc. the Lignous Body, it is also made necessary. For the Pores hereof, in that they are all extended by its length, the Sap also according to the frame and site of the said Pores will principally move; and that way as its Sap moves, the same way will the generation of its Parts also proceed ”

“ For if either they were so big, as to contain; or so entire, as perfectly to include a Pith, the Energy of the Sap in that Pith, would cause the said Lignous Ring to shoot forth on every side, as it doth in the Root or Trunk: But the said Fibres being not figur’d into an entire Ring, but so as to be open; on that hand therefore where open, they cannot shoot any thing directly from themselves, because there they have nothing to shoot; and the Sap having also a free vent through the said opening, against that part therefore which is thereunto opposite, it can have no force ”

“ And the Sap by the amplitude, and great porosity of the Pith being herein more copious, its Fermentation also will be quicker; which we see in all Liquors by standing in a greater quantity together, proceeds more kindly: And being tunn’d up within the Wood, is at the same time not only secur’d from loss, but all extream mutations, the Day being thus not too hot, nor the Night too cold for it. ”

“ So that though the Sap may meet with some opposition even here, yet here meeting with the least, here it will bestow it self (feeding the Lignous Body in its passage) into the Pith. Into which fresh Sap still entring, this, [64] yet but crude, will subside: that first received and so become a Liquor higher wrought, will more easily mount upwards; and moving in the Pith, as in the Arteria magna, in equal altitude with the more superiour Insertions; the most volatile parts of all will still continue their direct ascent towards the Trunk. ”

“ For should the Lignous Body, as it doth in the Root, its smaller parts, stand Central here also, and so the Cortical wholly surround it: the greater part of the Sap would thus be more immediately expos’d to the Sun and ayr; and being lodg’d in a laxe Body, by them continually be prey’d upon, and as fast as supplied to the Trunk, be exhausted. ”

“ In the Piths of many Plants, the greater Pores have some of them lesser ones within them, and some of them are divided with cross Membranes: And betwixt their several sides, have, I think, other smaller Pores visibly interjected. However, that they are all permeable, is most certain. They stand together not indeterminately, but in even Ranks or Trains; as those of the Insertions by the breadth, so these by the length of the Trunk. And thus far there is a general corresponding betwixt the part of the Root and Trunk: Yet are there [80] some considerable Disparities betwixt them ”

“ The reason of the said Positions of the Fibres in the Stalk of the Leaf, is for its more erect growth, and greater strength; which, were the position of the said Fibres in an even Line, and so the Stalk it self, as well as the Leaf flat, must needs have been defective; as from what we have said of the Circumferential posture of the Lignous Body in the Trunk, we may better conceive. ”

“ Which protection it gives not only to the Seminal Sap and Seed it self; but alwaies also to its Seed-Branch. Thus we see an Apple, besides that it is it self of ample compass, for the sake of its Seed, hath likewise its coar; as if it were not sufficient, that the Walls of their Room are so very thick, unless also wainscotted. In a Pear again, where the Parenchyma is of less compass than that of an Apple, to what protection this affords, that of the Calculary is super-added. ”

“ The inner main Branches are two, diametrically opposite to each other, and at the Cork with the other inosculated. From these two are branched other smaller, every one having a Seed appendent to it, whose Coats it entreth by a double Filament, one at the Basis, the other at the Cone. They are all very white and turgent; [163] and by a slaunt cut, may be observ’d concave; thus representing themselves analogous to so many true spermatick Vessels.
The Uses of Fruits are for Man, (sometimes also other Animals, as are Akerns and Haws) and for the Seed. ”

“ For hence it is that Joyners and Carpenters [86] unite and set together their Timber-pieces and several Works oftentimes with double Joynts; which, although they are no thicker than a single one might be made, yet standing at a distance, have a greater strength than that could have. And the same Architecture will have the same use in the Trunks of Plants, in most whereof ’tis very apparent; as for instance, in Corn: For Nature designing its Sap a great Ascent for its higher maturity, hath given it a tall Trunk; but to prevent its ravenous despoiling either of the Ear or Soyl ”

“ As the Pores are greater or less, so are the Insertions also: To the bare eye usually the greater only are discernable: But through an indifferent Microscope there are [75] others also, much more both numerous and small, distinctly apparent. So that, I think, we may observe, that as the grand Pith of the Trunk communicates with, and is augmented by the greater Insertions ”

“ Root; these of the Lignous are only by the length; which, especially in Vines and some other Roots, is evident. Of these Pores, ’tis also observable, that although in all places of the Root they are visible, yet most fair and open about the Fibrous Extremities of some Roots (and in many Roots higher) where there is no Pith. These Pores, as they shew in young Roots of Trees, see in Fig. 6, & 7.
This Lignous Body lieth with all its Parts, so far as they are visible, in a Circle or Ring; yet are there divers extream small Fibres thence shooting, usually mixed with the Cortical Body ”

“ In this mature estate, from the seed-Branch into the Coats of the seed, as into the Womb, ’tis next delivered up. The meaner Part hereof again, to the outer, as aliment good enough, is supplied. The finer part is transmitted to the Inner; which, being, as is said, a Parenchymous and more spatious Body, the Sap therefore is not herein, as in the outer, a meer aliment; but in order to its being, by Fermentation, farther prepared. ”

“ For our better understanding whereof, having taken a view of the several Parts of a Bean, as far as Dissection conducts; we will next briefly enquire into the use of the said Parts, and in what manner they are the Fountain of Vegetation, and concurrent to the being of the future Plant.
The general Cause of the growth of a Bean or other Seed, is Fermentation; that is, the Bean lying in the Mould, and a moderate access of some moisture, partly dissimilar, and partly congenerous, being made, a gentle Fermentation thence ariseth ”

“ For the dissimilar Leaves, for [31] very reason are so thin, because so very broad or long; as we see many things, how much they are extended in length or breadth, so much they lose in depth, or grow more thin; which is that which here befalls the now effoliated Lobes. For being once disimprisoned from their Coats, and the course of the Sap into them now more and more encreased, they must needs very considerably amplifie themselves ”

“ For the Trunk and Branches being long and fragile, the Brushes of the Winds would injuriously hoise them to and fro, to the dammage both of themselves and their tender Fruit, were they not by these Ligaments brought to good Association and Settlement.
As for this end, so for Propagation, we see the Trunk-Roots of Camomile. Whence we have the reason of the common observation, that it grows better by being trod upon: the Mould, where too laxe, being thus made to lie more conveniently about the said Trunk-Roots newly bedded therein ”

“ The Original of the Calculary I seem to have neglected: But hereof we may here best say, that whereas all the other Parts are Essential and truly Vital, the Calculary is not; but that the several Knots whereof it consists, are only so many meer Concretions or Precipitations out of the Sap; as in Urines, Wines, and other Liquors, we often see. ”

“ For in dissecting a Root, we find, [43] that the Cortical Body doth not only environ the Lignous, but is also wedg’d, and in many pieces inserted into it; and that the said inserted pieces, make not a meer Indenture, but transmit and shoot themselves quite through as far as the Pith; which in a thin Slice cut athwart the Root as so many lines drawn from the Circumference towards the Center, shew themselves. ”

“ And what by the Sap the Trunk is in part dispos’d to, by the respective position and quantity of its Parts it is effectually enabled. For whereas in the Root the Lignous [81] Body being in proportion with the Cortical, but little, and all lying close within its Center; it must therefore needs be under its controul: on the contrary, being here comparatively of greater quantity, and also more dilated, and having divers of its Branches standing more abroad towards the Circumference, as both in the Leaves and Body of the young Trunk and Plume, is seen ”

“ Not that I think what is good and valuable, is alwaies its own best Advocate; for I know that the Censures of men are humorous and variable, and that one Age must have leave to frown on those Books, which another will do nothing less than kiss and embrace. But chiefly for this Reason, lest I should so much as seem desirous of your Lordships Solliciting my Cause as to all I have said: For as it is your Glory, that you like not so to shine, as to put out the least Star ”

“ As likewise for the security of its Sap: For by this means it is, that the several Fibres, and especially the main or middle Fibre of the Leaf, together with a considerable part of the Cortical Body, are so disposed of, as to jut out, not from its upper, but its back, or nether plain. Whence the whole [112] Leaf, reclining backward, becomes a Canopy to them, defending them from those Injuries which from colder Blasts, or an hotter Sun, they might otherwise sustain. So that by a mutual benefit, as these give suck to all the Leaf, so that again protection to these. ”

“ Of what antiquity the Anatomy of Animals is, and how great have been its Improvements of later years, is well known. That of Vegetables is a subject which from all Ages to this day hath not only lain by uncultivated ”