THE
ANATOMY
OF
SEEDS.
PART IV.
CHAP. I.
Of the FIGURES of Seeds.
HE Figures of Seeds, or rather of their outward Covers, are made suitable, Partly to their Collocation in the Uterus, as the End. So those of Mallow, standing like a Coronet round the Stalk, are of a wedged Figure; whereby their sharp Edges do all meet together in one Centre. Partly, to the various distribution of the Vessels or Fibers, as one Cause: by which the Measures and Surface of Seeds, as well as of the Leaves of Plants, are diversified. And partly, to the Nature of the Saline and other Principles regent in a Plant, as another principal Cause. And therefore the more stony, brittle, or full of Salt the Covers of any Seeds are, they are generally more angular, and their Figure, whether angular or not, more constantly observed. So the Tartareous Stone of a Plum, is not only more angular, but also more regular than the Husk of the Kernel of a Pear or Apple.
2. §. For all Stones are measured by several Circles, whose Diametres hold a certain proportion to the Length of the Stone; in the same manner as hath been shewed in the description of the Leaf. P. 1. Ch. 3. So the Stone of the Pease-Cod-Plum, is measured by two Circles. That of the Turkey-Plum with Four. Tab. 72. That of the Aprecok-Plum, with Two repeated oppositely; being perfectly Rhomboid. To which, those also of the Wheat-Plum, Damasceen, and some others, allude. And some are measured by four Circles, and one repeated.
3. §. The Figures, not only of the larger sort of Seeds, but even of the smallest, have much and elegant variety. We will take the pleasure of comparing these which follow.
4. §. And first of all, some are perfectly Spherick, and with an even Surface; Tab. 73. as that of little Century. That of Spergula is also Spherick; but hath a knobed Surface, and is encompassed with a Membraneous Rimm, like the Horizon of a Globe. That of little Celandine is Circular, but compressed like a Cheese.
5. §. Others are Nephroideous, or as it were Hemispherick. Of which Figure, and hereunto approaching, there are a greater number than of any other; as that which agrees with the more frequent Shape and Fold of the Lobes and Radicle of the Seed, as shall be seen. Yet with some difference, as to their Shape and Surface. So, that of Lychnis Sylvestris is figur’d just like the kidney of a Cat; and hath a knobed Surface. Tab. 73. That of Poppey comes near it in Shape; but hath a Surface exactly like that part of the Paunch of a Sheep, called the Hony-Coome. That of great Celandine, is a little more oblong; and so, like the Kidney, not of a Cat, but of a Sheep: chequered with parallel Rings and other short Lines placed alternately betwixt them.
6. §. Where, by the way, we may see, as well by the Seed, as by the other Parts, of how different kinds, the Great and Little Celandine, notwithstanding their Names, are to be esteemed.
7. §. The Seed also of Ben or spatling Poppey is somewhat like a Kidney: Tab. 73. but hath its Circumference raised up into a double Ridge: to which several small Ridges do in some sort also radiate from one Centre sc. the Base of the Seed.
Tab. 73. 8. §. The Seed of Chickweed, is partly like a Kidney, and partly like a little Retort. As also that of Pentaphyl. fragiferum. But the former is rough cast with small pieces having as it were feet on each side, like little Insects. With which, the Seed of Leuchanthemum (which may be called, the Giant-Chickweed) doth much agree. The latter, hath several Fibrous Ridges, resembling the Fibres in the Auricles of the Heart; or running from the nose to the Circumference, somewhat like the Azymuth Lines on a Quadrant.
Tab. 73. 9. §. Some are Oval; as that of the little Bell, and rough cast with Fibres almost parallel and produced by the Length of the Seed. In which latter respect, the Seeds also of Trachelium and some other like Plants, are agreeable. That of Brooklime, is also Oval, but encompassed with a thick Rimm, narrowing all the way to the Base of the Seed.
10. §. The Seed of Dovesfoot hath an oval Cone, and a flat Base. Its Surface favous, like that of Poppy, Toad-flax, and some other Seeds. Tab. 73. That of Sedum minus æstivum luteum, is in a manner the Figure of the former inverted, being flat, not at the Base, but on the Top. And whereas that rises with a blunt Angle, this hath only a Ridg, raised above the Surface of the Seed.
11. §. The Seeds of divers sorts of Grass, are more Conick, as particularly of that, which for the likeness its Seed hath to a Barly Corn, may be called Barley-Grass. And I little doubt, but that among the several sorts of Grass, Tab. 73. there are some which answer to all the kinds of Esculent Grains, as Oat-Grass, Rice-Grass, Wheat-Grass, Rye-Grass. And accordingly, that they may be more profitably sown in one Ground, than in another; and used with distinction, for the higher, or more wholsome feeding of Cattle. A Rush, though it seems an imperfect Plant, yet besides its Flower, hath also a plentiful brood of Seeds of a Conick Figure.
12. §. Some Seeds are Cylindrick, as that of St. Johns-wort, as also of Tutsan, and some other like Plants, with some little diversity in the Shape or Surface of the Seed. Tab. 73. That of Vervain, is in a manner, half a Cylinder: the true Seed lying in the Covers, like a Child, in a Cradle without an head.
13. §. Others are rather Conico-Cylindrick, as that of Jacobæa; Tab. 73. having a Coronet on the top, and several furrows by the Length round about. Answerable to which, is that of Erygerum; in Shape not unlike to a Rowling-pin.
14. §. Some are Plani-Conick, as that of Nettle, which is shaped somewhat like the end of a Speer. That of Eye-bright is more Eliptick; with several Ridges running by the Length; and joyned together with short pieces transversly, as in the looping of Lace. Tab. 74. That of Wormwood not very unlike a little flat Essence-Glass: in which, the Fibres are produced by the Length, as the Ridges are in Eye-bright. And so in Yarrow, which is also encompassed with a Membraneous Rimm. That of Dandelyon, is Plani-Conick towards the Base. And so those of Lettice, Sonchus, and some others. To which, those also of Hieraceum, Tragopogon, Scorzonera, &c. with respect to their Surface, do all allude.
15. §. And some are Conico-Triangular. Of which, that of Sorrel is Conick at both ends; the sides equal; and upon every Angle, hath a narrow and sharp Rimm. As also that of Anagallis; but the Sides are Spheri-conick, and so the ends are blunt. Tab. 74. They are also pounced with many little round Cavities. But have no Rimm upon the Angles.
16. §. The Seed of Nigella is Triangular, and Conick only at the Top. On every Angle, hath a narrow Rimm; the three Sides equal, and Spheri-conick; surrounded with seven or eight Ridges by the girth, joyned together in some places with others transversly. Tab. 74. That of Arsmart, is also Triangular and Conick at the Top. But one of the Sides is almost equal to the other two; which stand low. That of Knot-Grass hath three Sides, one less than another; being as 5, 3, and 2, or thereabout.
17. §. The next (which I take to be the Seed of a sort of Bugloss) is very oddly figured. The Base, oval; the Top, conick; the Back, swelling and round as an Egg; Tab. 74. the Belly also swelling, but rising up into an obtuse Angle highest in the midle, somewhat like a Breastpiece of Armour: and is encompassed with a Rimm sloaped upward.
18. §. That of Moldavian Bawm, is Triangular, and Conick only at the Base. The place where it is fastned, shaped like the Beard of a Dart. Two of the Sides are Plani-conick, the Third Spheri-conick, Tab. 74. and near as big as both the other two. The Head flat, with a Rimm erected upon each Side, so as to make a Spherical Triangle. Approaching to this, are those of Sage, Horehound, Clary, &c.
19. §. That also of Bellis Tanaceti folio, hath two Sides Planiconick, and a third Sphericonick. Tab. 74. The two first have several Ridges running to the Base. Which is not perfectly conick, but a little dilated into two obtuse Angles. The Head Triangular, with one Side convex, the other Two straight, a little hollowd, and having a small pinacle in the Center.
20. §. That of Stæchas Arabica, as the former, saving, that the Head is oval, and the Base sloaped into a little Triangle. That of Wartwort or Sun-Spurge, hath a very complex Figure. The Belly consisteth of two Planiconick Sides, as the former; the Back, Sphericonick. Tab. 74. The whole Seed, in a manner, Conick-oval. Yet the Base and Head both flat. In the midle of the former, a Peg by which the Seed is fastned; and of the latter, a poynted Knob. The midle of the Belly-Sides, hollowed, so as to make a flat Rimm of equal Bredth; and the hollows filled up with Bladders like those in all the Parenchymus Parts of a Plant.
21. §. Lastly, there are some Seeds which are square. Whereof some are straight, as that of Fox-glove; Tab. 74. which hath also an even Surface: And that of Blattaria, in which there are several little hollows in even Rows. And so in Brounwort.
22. §. And some Convex, as that of Chrysanthemum Americ. ’Tis Quadrati-conick, or square and sharp at the Base, and big at the Head. Tab. 74. The Sides all plain; and a thin Rimm erected upon every Angle. As also on the four Sides of the Head, which is flat, with a little Pinacle in the midle.
23. §. The Seed also of Tansey, is a Conick and bended square not with the Angle forward, as the former, but the Side. Tab. 74. And in the place of every Rimm, hath a round Ridge. Somewhat like to this, are those of Febrifuga, Mayweed, and some others. Thus far of the Figures of Seeds.