To the Seed, the Fruit is serviceable; First, in order to its being supply’d with a due and most convenient Sap, the greater and less elaborated part thereof being, in its passage towards the Seed, thereinto received; the Fruit doing the same office to the Seed, which the Leaves do to the Fruit; the Sap in the Fruit being in a laxe comparison, as the Wine; and that for the Seed, a small part of the highest Spirit rectified from it.
So likewise for its Protection, in order to the prosperous carrying on and perfecting of its generation, and security being perfected. 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. But in a Plum, where the Parenchyma is exceeding tender, and in a Peach, which hangs late, and till Autumn Frosts approach, we have not only the Rubbish of a Calculary but stout Stone-Walls. Within which also, not only the Seed it self; but the Seed-Branch is evermore immur’d. Lastly, in a Nut, where the shell being not surrounded with a Parenchyma, that protection is wanting without, ’tis answer’d by an ample Pith within it; and the seed-Branch likewise included, not meerly in the Body of the Shell, as in a Plum, but within the pith it self. So necessary is this design that what the Hen by Incubation or Hovering, is to the Egg or Chick; that the whole Fruit, by comprehension, is to the Seed.
CHAP. VII.
Of the Seed.
As the Original, so the ultimate end & Perfection of Vegetation is the Seed. How it is the former, and in its state apt for Vegetation, hath already been seen. How the latter, and in its state of Generation, we shall now lastly enquire. In doing which, what in the other state was either not distinctly existent, or not so apparent, or not so intelligible, will occur.
The two general Parts of the Seed are its Covers and Body. The Covers in this estate are usually four; the outmost we may call the Case: ’Tis of a very various form; sometimes a Pouch, as in Nasturtium, Cochlearia; a Cod, as in all Pulse, Galega; sometimes not entire, but parted, or otherwise open, as in Sorrel, Knotgrass, with many other forms; I think alwaies more heterogeneous to that of the Seed, by which it differs from the proper Coats. To this the Caps of Nuts, and the Parenchyma’s of Fruits are analogous.
The two next are properly the Coats: In a Bean especially, and the like; from whence to avoyd Confusion, the denomination may run common to the responding Covers of other Seeds. The Colour of the outer is of all degrees, from White to the Blackness of Jett: Its Figure sometimes Kidney’d, as in Alcea, Behen, Poppy; triangular, as in Polygonatum, Sorrel; triangular spherical, in Mentha, Melissa; circular, in Leucoium, Amaranthus; globular, in Napus, Asperula; oval, in Speculum Veneris, Tithymalus; half Globe, in Coriander; that which we take for one single round Seed, being a Conjugation of two; half Oval, in Anise, Fennel; Hastal, in Lactuca; Cylindrical, as, if I mistake not, in Jacobæa, Pyramidal, in Geranium, Althææ Fol. with many other differences: But the Perfection of one or two of the said Figures lieth in the Case: So that as all Lines and Proportions are in the Flower, so all Regular Figures in the Seed, or rather in its Covers.
’Tis sometimes glistering, as in Speculum Veneris; Rough-cast, in Catanance; Studded, in Behen, Blattaria; Favous, in Papaver, Antirrhinum, Lepidium annuum, Alcea Vesicaria, Hyosciamus, and many more, before the Seeds have lain long by; Pounced, in Phalangium Cretæ, Lithospermum; Ramified, in Pentaphyllum fragiferum, Erectum majus, resembling the Fibres of the Ears of the Heart; some just Quinquenerval, as in Anisum, and many more, the Lignous Body being in five main Fibres branched therein.
The Covers of not only Quince-Seeds, and those of Psyllium (more usually taken notice of) but those also of Horminum, Nasturtium, Eruca, Camelina, Ocymum, and divers others, have a Mucilage; which, though it be not visible when the Seeds are throughly dry; yet lying a while in some warm Liquor, or only on the Tongue, it swells more or less, and upon them all fairly shews it self. On that of Ocymum it appears grayish; on the other, transparent; and on that of Nasturtium Hortense very large; even emulous of the inner Pulp surrounding a Gooseberry-seed. The putting of Clary-seed into the Eye, may have been brought into use from this Mucilage, by which alone it may become Medicinal. And thus far of the Superficies.