The Florid Attire, is commonly known by the blind and rude Name of Thrums; as in the Flowers of Marigold, Tansie, &c. How adequate its imposition is, observation will determine: For the several Thrums or rather Suits, whereof the Attire is made up, however else they may differ in various Flowers, in this agree, that they are ever consistent of more than one, sometimes of two, and for the most part of three pieces (for which I call them Suits) and each piece of a different, but agreeable and comely form.
The outer part of every Suit, is its Floret: whose Body or Tube is divided at the top (like that of the Cowslip) into divers distinct Leaves; so that a Floret is the Epitome of a flower; and is all the flower that many Plants, as Mugwort, Tansie, and others, have. What the Learned Dr. Brown observeth of the number Five as to the Leaves of the flower, is still more universally holding in these of the Floret.
Upon the Expansion of the Floret, the next part of the Suit is from within its Tube brought to sight; which we may (with respect to that within it) call the Sheath: For this also, like the Floret, is a concave Body; in its shape very well resembling the Fistulous Pouches of Wake-Robin, or of Dragon.
The Sheath, after some time, dividing at the top, from within its Concave, the third and innermost part of the suit, sc. the Blade advanceth and displayes it self. This part is not hollow, as the other two, but solid; yet at its point, not originally, but after some time, is evermore divided into two halves.
Upon the division of the said Point, there appears, as upon the opening of a Semet; a Powder of Globulets, which before lay enclosed up within its Clefts; and are of the same nature with those of a Semet, though not so copious: So that all flowers have their Powders or Globulets. The whole Attire may in Knapweed, Blewbottle, &c. be observed.
The use of the Attire, how contemptibly soever we may look upon it, is certainly great. And though for our own use we value the Leaves of the Flower, or the Foliation, most; yet of all the three Parts, this in some respects is the choycest, as for whose sake and service the other two are made. The use hereof, as to Ornament and Distinction, is unquestionable, but is not all. As for Distinction, though by the help of Glasses we may make it to extend far; yet in a passant view, which is all we usually make, we cannot so well. As for Ornament, and particularly in reference to the Semets, we may ask, If for that meerly these were meant, then why should they be so made as to break open, or to contain any thing within them? Since their Beauty would be as good as if they were not hollow, and is better before they crack and burst open, than afterwards.
A farther use hereof therefore we must acknowledge, and may observe; and that is for food; for Ornament and Distinction to us, and for Food to other Animals. I will not say, but that it may serve even to these for Distinction too, that they may be able to know one Plant from another, and in their flight or progress settle where they like best; and that therefore the varieties of these small parts are many, and well observed by them, which we take no notice of: Yet the finding out of Food is but in order to enjoy it: Which, that it is provided for a vast number of little Animals in the attires of all Flowers, observation perswades us to believe. For why else are they evermore here found? Go from one Flower to another, great and small, you shall meet with none untaken up with these Guests. In some, and particularly the Sun-flower, where the parts of the Attire, and the animals for which they provide, are larger, the matter is more visible. We must not think, that God Almighty hath left any of the whole Family of his Creatures unprovided for; but as the Great Master, some where or other carveth out to all; and that for a great number of these little Folk, He hath stored up their peculiar provisions in the Attires of Flowers; each Flower thus becoming their Lodging and their Dining-Room, both in one.
Wherein the particular parts of the Attire may be more distinctly serviceable, this to one Animal, and that to another, I cannot say: Or to the same Animal, as a Bee, whether this for the Honey, another for their Bread, a third for the Wax: Or whether all only suck from hence some Juice; or some may not also carry some of the Parts, as of the Globulets, wholly away: Or lastly, what may be the primary and private use of the attire (for even this abovesaid; though great, yet is but secondary) I now determine not.