[d] Dr. Beal (who was very curious, and tried many Experiments upon Vegetables) gives some good Reasons to imagine, that there is a direct Communication between the Parts of the Tree and the Fruit, so that the same Fibres which constitute the Root, Trunk, and Boughs, are extended into the very Fruit. And in old Horn-beams, I have observed something very like this; in many of which, there are divers great and small Ribs (almost like Ivy, only united to the Body) running from the Root up along the outside of the Body, and terminating in one single, or a few Boughs: Which Bough or Boughs spread again into Branches, Leaves and Fruit. See what Dr. Beal hath in Lowth. Abr. V. 2. p. 710.
But as to the particular Canals, and other Parts relating to the Anatomy of Vegetables, it is too long a Subject for this Place, and therefore I shall refer to Seigneur Malpighi’s and Dr. Grew’s Labours in this kind.
[e] Tanta est Respirationis necessitas, & usus, ut Natura in singulis viventium ordinibus varia, sed analoga, paraverit instrumenta, quæ Pulmones vocamus [and so he goes on with observing the Apparatus made in the various Genera of Animals, and then saith] In Plantis verò, quæ infirmum animalium attingunt ordinem, tantam Trachearum copiam & productionem extare par est, ut his minimæ Vegetantium partes præter corticem irrigentur.——Plantæ igitur (ut conjectari fas est) cum sint viventia, visceribus infixa terræ, ab hac, seu potius ab aquâ & aëre, commixtis & percolatis à terrâ, Respirationis suæ materiam recipiunt, ipsarumque Tracheæ ab halitu terræ, extremas radices subingresso, replentur. Malpig. Op. Anat. Plant. p. 15.
These Tracheæ or Air-Vessels, are visible, and appear very pretty in the Leaf of Scabious, or the Vine, by pulling asunder some of its principal Ribs, or great Fibres; between which, may be seen the Spiral Air-Vessels (like Threads of Cob-web) a little uncoyled: A Figure whereof, Dr. Grew hath given us in his Anat. Plant. Tab. 51. 52.
As to the curious coyling, and other Things relating to the Structure of those Air-Vessels. I refer to Malpig. p. 14. and Dr. Grew, ib. L. 3. c. 3. §. 16 &c. and L. 4. c. 4. §. 19. of Mr. Ray, from them succinctly, Hist. Plant. L. 1. c. 4.
[f] Concerning the Leaves, I shall note only two or three Things. 1. As to the Fibres of the Leaf, they stand not in the Stalk, in an even Line, but always in an Angular, or Circular Posture, and their vascular Fibres or Threads, are 3, 5, or 7. The Reason of their Position thus, is for the more erect Growth and greater Strength of the Leaf, as also for the Security of its Sap. Of all which see, Dr. Grew, L. 1. c. 4. §. 8. &c. and L. 4. Par. 1. c. 3. also Tab. 4. Fig. 2. to 11. Another Observable in the Fibres of the Leaf, is their orderly Position, so as to take in an eighth Part of a Circle, as in Mallows; in some a tenth, but in most a twelfth, as in Holy-Oak; or a sixth, as in Sirynga. Id. ib. Tab. 46, 47.
2. The Art in Folding up the Leaves before their Eruption out of their Gems, &c. is incomparable, both for its Elegancy and Security, viz. In taking up (so as their Forms will bear) the least room; and in being so conveniently couched as to be capable of receiving Protection from other Parts, or of giving it to one another, e.g. First, there is the Bow-lap, where the Leaves are all laid somewhat convexly one over another, but not plaited——but where the Leaves are not so thick set, as to stand in the Bow-lap, there we have the Plicature, or the Flat-lap; as in Rose-tree, &c. And so that curious Observer goes on shewing the various Foldings, to which he gives the Names of the Duplicature, Multiplicature, the Fore-rowl, Back-rowl, and Tre-rowl, or Treble-rowl. Grew. ib. L. 1. c. 4. §. 14, &c. To these he adds some others, L. 4. P. 1. c. 1. §. 9. Consult also Malpig. de Gemmis, p. 22. &c.
To these curious Foldings, we may add another noble Guard by the Interposition of Films, &c. of which Dr. Grew saith, there are about six Ways, viz. Leaves, Surfoyls, Ingerfoyls, Stalks, Hoods, and Mantlings. Grew. ib. and Tab. 41, 42. Malpig. ibid.
[g] In the Flower may be considered the Empalement, as Dr. Grew; the Calix, or Perianthium, as Mr. Ray and others, call it, designed to be a Security, and Bands, to the other Parts of the Flower. Floris velut basis & fulcimentum est. Ray Hist. L. 1. c. 10. Flowers, whose Petala are strong (as Tulips) have no Calix. Carnations, whose Petala are long and slender, have an Empalement of one Piece: And others, such as the Knap-weeds, have it consisting of several Pieces, and in divers Rounds, and all with a counterchangeable Respect to each other, for the greater Strength and Security of themselves, and the Petala, &c. they include.
The next is the Foliation, as Dr. Grew, the Petala, or Folia, as Mr. Ray, and others. In these, not only the admirable Beauty, and luxuriant Colours are observable, but also their curious Foldings in the Calix, before their Expansion. Of which Dr. Grew hath these Varieties, viz. The Close-Couch, as in Roses; the Concave-Couch, as in Blattaria flore albo; the Single-Plait, as in Pease-Blossoms; the Double-Plait, as in Blue-Bottles, &c. the Couch and Plait together, as in Marigolds, &c. the Rowl, as in Ladies Bower; the Spire, as in Mallows; and lastly, the Plait and Spire together, as in Convolvulus Doronici folio. L. 1. c. 5. §. 6. and Tab. 54.