Part 1

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Thursday, _Novemb. 9. 1671_.

_At a Meeting of the Council of the ~R. Society~._

_Ordered_,

That the Discourse presented to the R. Society, Entitul’d, _The Anatomy of ~Vegetables~ begun, with a General Accompt of ~Vegetables~ thereon_, By _N. Grew_, M.D. be Printed by _Spencer Hickman_, one of the Printers of the _R. Society_.

_Brouncker_ Pres.

THE ANATOMY OF VEGETABLES Begun.

With a GENERAL ACCOUNT OF _VEGETATION_ Founded thereon.

By _NEHEMIAH GREW_, M. D. and Fellow of the _Royal Society_.

_LONDON_,

Printed for _Spencer Hickman_, Printer to the _R. Society_, at the _Rose_ in S. _Pauls_ Church-Yard, 1672.

TO THE _Right Honourable_ & _Most Illustrious_ THE PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF THE _ROYAL SOCIETY_, _The Following_ DISCOURSE _Is most Humbly_ Presented _By_ The Authour _NEHEMIAH GREW_.

TO THE _Right Reverend_ JOHN _Lord Bishop of CHESTER_.

_MY LORD_,

I hope your pardon, if while you are holding _that Best of Books_ in one Hand, I here present some Pages of that of _Nature_ into your other: Especially since _your Lordship_ knoweth very well, how excellent a _Commentary_ This is on the _Former_; by which, in part God reads the World his own Definition, and their Duty to him.

But if this Address, _my Lord_, may be thought congruous, ’tis yet more just; and that I should let _your Lordship_, and others know, how much, and how deservedly I resent your extraordinary Favours: Particularly that you were pleased so far to animate my Endeavours towards the publishing the following _Observations_. Many whereof, and most belonging to the First Chapter, having now lain dormant near seven years; and yet might perhaps have so continued, had not _your Lordships_ Eye at length created Light upon them. In doing which, you have given one, amongst those many Tokens, of as well your readiness to promote learning and knowledge by the hands of others; as your high Abilities to do it by your own. Both which are so manifest in _your Lordship_, that like the first Principles of _Mathematical Science_, they are not so much to be asserted, because known and granted by all.

The Consideration whereof, _my Lord_, may make me not only _just_ in owning of your Favours, but also most _Ambitious_ of your _Patronage_: which yet to bespeak, I must confess I cannot well. 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; so were it to your Dishonour to borrow your Name to illustrate the Spots, though of the most conspicuous.

_Your Lordships_ Most Obliged & Most Humble Servant

_Nehemiah Grew_.

THE PREFACE.

_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; but for ought I know, except some Observations of some of our own Countrey-men, hath not been so much as thought upon; whether for that the World hath been more enamoured with the former, or pity to humane frailty hath more obliged to it, or other Reasons, I need not enquire._

_But considering that both came at first out of the same Hand, and are therefore the Contrivances of the same Wisdom; I thence fully assured my self, that it could not be a vain Design, though possibly unsuccessful, to seek it in both._

_In the prosecution hereof, how far I have gone, I neither judge my self, nor leave it to any one else to do it; because no man knows how far we have yet to go, or are capable of going. Nor is there any thing which starves and stinteth the growth of knowledge more, than such Determinations, whether we speak or conceit them only._

_What we have performed thus far, lieth, for the most part, open to the use and improvement of all men. Only in some places, and chiefly in the Third Chapter, we have taken in the help of Glasses; wherein, after we had finished the whole Composure, some Observations made by that Ingenious and Learned Person Mr. ~Hook~, a Worthy Member of the ~Royal Society~, my much Honoured Friend, and by him communicated to me, were super-added: As likewise some others also ~Microscopical~, of my own, which his gave me the occasion of making._

_Those that shall think fit to examine, as well as to peruse these Observations, we advertise them, ~First~, That they begin, and so proceed till they end again, with the Seed: For they will hardly be able to avoid Errour and Misapprehension, if either partial or preposterous in their Enquiries. ~Next~, That they confine not their Enquiries to one time of the Year; but to make them in several Seasons, wherein the Parts of a ~Vegetable~ may be seen in their several Estates. ~And then~, That they neglect not the comparative ~Anatomy~; for as some things are better seen in one estate, so in one ~Vegetable~, than another._

_What, upon Observation already made, we have erected, as they are not Sticks and Straws; so neither do we assure all to be of the best Oak. How Dogmatical soever my Assertions may seem to be, yet do I not affect the unreasonable Tyranny of obtruding upon the Faith of any. He that speaketh Reason, may be rather satisfied, in being understood, than believed._

THE CONTENTS

CHAP. 1.

_Of the Seed as Vegetating._

The Method propounded. 1, 2. The _Garden-Bean_ dissected. 2. The two _Coats_ thereof. 2, 3. The _Foramen_ in the outer _Coat_, 3, 4. What generally observable of the Covers of the _Seed_, 4. The main Body of the _Seed_, 5, 6. The _Radicle_ distinguish’d. 6. The _Plume_ distinguish’d. 8. Described. 9. The _Cuticle_ described. 10, 11. The _Parenchyma_. 11, 12. The _Inner Body_, how observed. 14, 16. Describ’d. 15, 16, 17, 18.

The _Coats_ how in common subservient to the _Vegetation_ of the _Seed_. 20, 21. The _Foramen_, of what use herein. 22. The use of the _Inner Coat_, and of the _Cuticle_. 22. Of the _Parenchyma_. 23. Of the Seminal Root. 23, 24. How the _Radicle_ first becomes a _Root_. 24, 26. How after the _Root_ the _Plume_ vegetates. 26. How the _Lobes_. 27. That they do, demonstrated. 29, 32. How the _Lobes_ thus turn into _Dissimilar Leaves_. 32. What hence resolvable. 32, 33. The use of the _Dissimilar Leaves_.

CHAP. 2.

_Of the Root._

The _Skin_ hereof, its Original. 37. The _Cortical Body_, its Original. 37. Description. 37, 38. _Pores._ 38. _Proportions._ 39. The _Lignous Body_, its Original. 39. Described by its _Pores_, 40. Its Proportions. 42. The _Insertment_, its original. 42. Description. 43. Pores. 43. Number and size. 44. A fuller description hereof, with that of the Osculations of the _lignous Body_. 44, 45. The _Pith_, its original sometimes from the _Seed_. 46. Sometimes from the _Cortical Body_. 47, 49. Its _Pores_. 49. _Proportions_. 49, 50. _Fibres_ of the _lignous Body_ therein. 50. The _Pith_ of those _Fibres_. 51.

How the _Root_ grows, and the use of the _Skin_, _Cortical_ and _lignous Body_ thereto. 51, 54. How it groweth in length. 55. By what means it descends. 56, 57. How it grows in breadth. 58. And the _Pith_ how thus framed. 59. The use of the _Pith_. 60, 61. Of the _Insertment_. 61, 62. The joint service of all the Parts. 63, 65.

CHAP. 3.

_Of the Trunk._

The _Skin_, its original. 67. The original of the _Cortical Body_. 67. Of the _lignous_. 68. Of the _Insertment_ and _Pith_. 68. The Latitudinal Shooting of the _lignous Body_, wherein observable. 69. The _Pores_ of the _lignous Body_, where and how most remarkable. 70. The _Pith_ of the same _Pores_. 70. A lesser sort of _Pores_. 71. A third sort only visible through a _Microscope_. Observed in Wood or Char-coal. 71. Observed in the Fibres of the Trunks of Plants. 72. 73. The _Insertions_ where more visible. 73, 74. The smaller Insertions, only visible through a _Microscope_. 74, 75. The _Pores_ of the Insertions. 76. Of the _Pith_. 77, 79.

How the _Trunk_ ascends. 80. 81. The disposition of its Parts consequent to that Ascent. 81, 82. Consequent to the different Nature of the _Sap_. 83, 84. The effects of the said Differences. 84, 89. Which way, and how the _Sap_ ascends. 89-98.

The Appendix.

_Of Trunk-Roots and Claspers._

_Trunk-Roots_ of two kinds. 99. _Claspers_ of one kind. 100. The use of both. 100, 103.

CHAP. 4.

_Of the Germen, Branch, and Leaf._

The Parts of the _Germen_ and _Branch_ the same with those of the _Trunk_. 104, 105. The manner of their growth. 105, 107. How nourished. 107. And the use of Knots. 108. How secur’d. 109. The Parts of a Leaf. 110. The Positions the _Fibres_ of the Stalks of Leaves. 110, 111. The visible cause of the different shape of Leaves. 112. And of their being flat. 113. The Foulds of Leaves, their kinds and Use. 114-118. The Protections of Leaves. 119, 120. The use of the Leaf. 120, 123.

_The Appendix._

_Of Thorns, Hairs and Globulets._

_Thorns_ of two kinds. 124, 125. _Hairs_ of divers. 126. Their use. 127. _Globulets_ of two kinds. 128.

CHAP. 5.

_Of the Flower._

Its Impalement of divers kinds. 129, 130. Their use. 130, 132. The _Foliation_, its nature. 132. Foulds. 133, 134. Protections. 135. Downs. 135. Globulets. 136. Its Use. 137, 139. The _Attire_ of two kinds. The Description of the first. 140, 142. Of the other. 143, 145. Their use. 145-148.

CHAP. 6.

_Of the Fruit._

The Number, Description, and Original of the Parts of an _Apple_. 149-152. Of a _Pear_. 153, 155. Of a _Plum_. 155-159. Of a _Nut_. 159, 161. Of a _Berry_. 161, 162. The use of the _Fruit_. 163-167.

CHAP. 7.

_Of the Seed in its state of Generation._

The _Case_, its Figures. 168. The outer Coat, its Figures. 170. Various Surface. 170, 171. And Mucilages. 171, 172. The nature of the outer Coat. 172. Its Original. 173, 174. The Original of the inner. 174. Its Nature. 175, 176. The _Secondine_. 177, 178. The _Colliquamentum_ herein. 178. The _Navel Fibres_. 179, 180.

In the Generation of the _Seed_, the _Sap_ first prepared in the _Seed-Branch_. 181. Next in the inner Coat. 182. With the help of the outer. 182. The use of the _Secondine_. 183, 184. Of the Ramulets of the _Seed-Branch_. ib. Of their _Inosculation_. ib. How the _Colliquamentum_ becometh a _Parenchyma_. 185, 186.

_Cl. Glissonius_ in Prolegomenis præfixis Libro de _Hepatis Anatomia_, c. 1.

Plantæ quoque in hunc censum (_sc. Anatomicum_) veniunt. Varia enim partium textura, & differentiis constant: & proculdubio ex accurata earundem diffectione, utiles valde Observationes nobis exurgerent; præstaretq; in illis (inferioris licet ordinis) rebus examinandis operam impendere, quam in transcribendis (ut sæpe fit) aliorum laboribus, inutiliter ætatem transigere. Quippe, hoc pacto, ignavarum apum more, aliena duntaxat alvearia expilamus, nihilq; bono publico adjicimus.

_To be added and corrected._

Pag. 8. _l._ 15. after _must_, _adde_ upon the Sprouting of the _Bean_. _p. 12. l. 23._ after _dense_, _adde_ and thence their different Tinctures. _p. 18. l. 13._ after _that_, _adde_ when. _p. 20. l. 8._ for _the_, _read_ an. _p. 56, l. 8._ _r._ once. _p. 90. l. 11._ _dele_ as. _p. 91. l. 12._ _r._ older. _p. 120. l. 11._ after _all_, _r._ is. _p. 134. l. 11._ _r._ _Convolvulus_. _p. 143. l. 10._ _r._ ever. _p. 145. l. 14._ for _not_, _r._ or. _p. 159. l. 8._ for _by_, _r._ to. _p. 160. l. 18._ dele _not_. _p. 185. l. 14._ after _therewith_, _r._ the. _dele_ the former _the_.

_In some Copies._

P. 168. _l. 4._ _r._ _ultimate end_, and _p. 170. l. 22._ _r._ _Favous_.

_The Reader is desired to excuse the misplacing of the Figures by the Graver, in the Authors absence._

Transcriber’s Note

The above additions and corrections have been made, and in addition the following changes were made to correct suspected printing errors:

Contents, “Coliquamentum” changed to “Colliquamentum” (The _Colliquamentum_ herein.)

Contents, “subsetvient” changed to “subservient” (how in common subservient)

Page 13, “anothet” changed to “another” (there being another Body)

Page 28, “ruus” changed to “runs” (which runs into the _Plume_)

Page 93, “and and” changed to “and” (the _Lignous Body_, and from the production)

Page 99, “Rooots” changed to “Roots” (Of Trunk-Roots and Claspers.)

Page 121, “Leavs” changed to “Leaves” (the Leaves above-named)

Page 126, “althoegh” changed to “although” (although they are various)

Page 126, “to to” changed to “to” (in some resemblance to a _Stags-Horn_)

Page 171, “transpareut” changed to “transparent” (on the other, transparent;)

Fig. 16, “The The” changed to “The” (The _Cortical Body_, or _Barque_.)

Punctuation and word spacing were amended without note; spelling remains as printed.

THE ANATOMY OF VEGETABLES

Begun.

With a General Account of _Vegetation_ founded thereon.

CHAP. I.

_Of the Seed as Vegetating._

Being to speak of Vegetables; and, as far as Inspection and consequent Reason may conduct, to enquire into the visible Constitutions and Uses of their several Parts; I chuse that Method which may with best advantage suit to what we have to say hereon: And that is the Method of Nature her self, in her continued Series of Vegetations, proceeding from the Seed sown, to the formation of the Root, Trunk, Branch, Leaf, Flower, Fruit, and last of all, of the Seed also to be sown again; all which we shall in the same order particularly speak of.

The Essential Constitutions of the said Parts are in all Vegetables the same: But for Observation, some are more convenient; in which I shall chiefly instance. And first of all, for the Seed we chuse the great Garden-Bean.

If we take a Bean then and dissect it, we shall find it cloathed with a double Vest or Coat: These Coats, while the Bean is yet green, are separable, and easily distinguished. When ’tis dry, they cleave so closely together, that the Eye, not before instructed, will judge them but one; the inner Coat likewise (which is of the most rare contexture) so far shrinking up, as to seem only the roughness of the outer, somewhat resembling Wafers under _Maquaroons_.

At the thicker end of the Bean, in the outer Coat, a very small _Foramen_ presents it self: In dissection ’tis found to terminate against the point of that part which I call the _Radicle_, whereof I shall presently speak. It is of that capacity as to admit a small Virginal Wyer, and is most conspicuous in a green Bean.

This _Foramen_ may be observed not only in the great Garden-Bean, but likewise in the other kinds; in the French-Bean very plainly; in Pease, Lupines, Vetches, Lentiles, and other Pulse ’tis also found; and in many Seeds not reckoned of this kindred, as in that of _Fœnugreek_, _Medica Tornata_, _Goats-Rue_, and others: In many of which, ’tis so very small, as scarcely, without the help of Glasses to be discovered; and in some, not without cutting off part of the Seed besides, which otherwise would intercept the sight hereof; it being in these and such like Seeds, from the place of the breaking off of the Peduncle perfectly distinct.

We may then observe, that all Seeds which have thick or hard Coats, have the same likewise perforated, in this, or some other manner. And accordingly, although the Coats of such Seeds as are lodg’d in Shells or Stones, being thin, are not visibly perforated; yet the Stones and Shells themselves always are; as _Chap. 7._ shall be seen how. To which Chapter, what is farther observable, either as to the nature, or number of the covers of the Seed, I also refer.

The Coats of the Bean being stripp’d off the proper Seed shews it self. The parts whereof it is constituted, are three; _sc._ the main Body, and two other appendant to it, which we may call the three Organical parts of the Bean.

The main Body is not one entire piece, but alwaies divided lengthwise into two halves or Lobes, which are both joyn’d together at the Basis of the Bean. These Lobes in dry Beans, are but difficultly separated or observ’d; but in young ones, especially boil’d, they easily slip asunder. See _Fig. 1_.

Some very few Seeds are divided, not into two Lobes, but more; as that of _Cresses_; and some not at all divided, but entire; as _Corn_: Excepting which few, all other Seeds, even the smallest are divided, like as the Bean, into just two Lobes: whereof though in most Seeds we cannot by dissection be inform’d; yet otherwise we easily may as shall be seen.

At the Basis of the Bean, the two other Organical parts stand appendent; by mediation whereof the two Lobes meet and join together. The greater of these two parts stands without the two Lobes, and upon divesting the Bean of its Coats, is immediately visible. ’Tis of a whiter colour, and more glossie than the main Body, especially when the Bean is young. In the Bean, and many other Seeds, tis situated somewhat above the thicker end, as you hold the Bean in its most proper posture for growth. In Oak-Kernels, which we call Acorns, Apple-Kernels, Almonds, and many other Seeds, it stands prominent just from the end; the Basis and the end being in these the same, but in the Bean divers. See _Fig. 1_.

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 lesser of the two laid Appendents lies occult between the two Lobes of the Bean, by separation whereof only it is to be seen. ’Tis enclos’d in two small Cavities form’d in the Lobes for its reception. Its colour comes near that of the _Radicle_; and is founded upon the Basis thereof having a quite contrary production, _sc._ towards the cone of the Bean; and being that very part, which, in process, becomes the Body or Trunk of the Vegetable. See _Fig. 1_.

For the sake of this Part principally it is, that the Bean is divided into Lobes; _sc._ that it may be warmly and safely lodged up between them; and so secur’d from the Injuries so tender a Part would sustain from the Mould, whereto, had the Main Body been entire, it must upon the Sprouting of the _Bean_ have lain contiguous.

This Part is not, like the _Radicle_, an entire Body, but divided at its loose end into divers pieces, all very close set together, as Feathers in a Bunch; for which reason it may be called the _Plume_. They are so close, that only two or three of the outmost are at first seen: but upon a nice and curious separation of these, the more interiour still may be discovered. Now as the _Plume_ is that Part which becomes the Trunk of the Plant, so these pieces are so many true, and already formed, though not displayed, Leaves, intended for the said Trunk, and foulded up in the same plicature, wherein, upon the sprouting of the Bean, they afterwards appear. In a French Bean the two outmost are very fair and elegant. In the great Garden-Bean, two extraordinary small Plumes, often, if not always, stand one on either side the great one now describ’d: From which, in that they differ in nothing save in their size, I therefore only here just take notice of them. And these three Parts, _sc._ the _Main Body_, the _Radicle_, and the _Plume_, are concurrent to the making up of every Seed; and no more than these.

Having thus taken a view of the Organical Parts of the Bean, let us next examine the Similary, _sc._ those whereof the Organical are compos’d: a distinct observation of which, for a clear understanding of the Vegetation of the Seed, and of the whole Plant arising thence, is requisite: To obtain which, we must proceed in our Anatomy.

Dissecting a Bean then, the first Part occurring is its Cuticle. The Eye and first Thoughts suggest it to be only a more dense and glossy Superficies; but better enquiry discovers it a real Cuticle. ’Tis so exquisitely thin, and for the most part so firmly continuous with the Body of the Bean, that it cannot, except in some small Rag, be distinctly seen; which, by carrying your Knife superficially into the Bean, and then very gently bearing upward what you have cut, will separate and shew it self transparent. This Cuticle is not only spread upon the Convex of the Lobes, but also on their Flats, where they are contiguous, extending it self likewise upon both the _Radicle_ and _Plume_, and so over the whole Bean.

This Part, though it be so far common with the Coats of the Bean, as to be like those, an Integument; yet are we in a quite different Notion to conceive of it: For whereas the Coats upon setting the Bean, do only administer the Sap, and, as being superseded from their Office, then die; as shall be seen: this, on the contrary, with the Organical Parts of the Bean, is nourished, augmented, and by a real Vegetation co-extended.

Next to the Cuticle, we come to the _Parenchyma_ it self; the Part throughout which the _inner Body_, whereof we shall speak anon, is disseminated; for which reason I call it the _Parenchyma_. The Surface hereof is somewhat dense, but inwardly ’tis more porous, and of a laxer Contexture. If you view it in a Microscope, it hath some similitude to the Pith, while sappy, in the Roots and Trunks of Plants; and that for good reason, as in _Ch. 2._ shall be seen. This is best seen in green Beans. See _Fig. 2_.

This Part would seem by its colour to be peculiar to the Lobes of the Bean; but as is the Cuticle, so is this also, common both to the _Radicle_ and _Plume_; that is, the _Parenchyma_ of the Bean, as to its essential substance, is the same in all three. 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 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.

But although the _Parenchyma_ be common, as is said, to all the Organical Parts; yet in very differing proportions. In the _Plume_, where it is proportionably least, it maketh about three Fifths of the whole _Plume_; in the _Radicle_, it maketh about five Seavenths of the whole _Radicle_; and in each Lobe, is so far over-proportionate, as to make at least nine Tenths of the whole Lobe.