"But not alike to every mortal eye "Is this great scene unveil'd. For since the claims "Of social life, to different labours urge "The active powers of man; with wise intent "The hand of NATURE on peculiar minds Imprints a different bias, and to each "Decrees its province in the common toil. "To some she taught the fabric of the sphere, "The changeful moon, the circuit of the stars, "The golden zones of heaven: to some she gave "To weigh the moment of eternal things, “Of time, and space, and fate's unbroken chain, "And will's quick impulse: OTHERS BY THE HAND "SHE LED O'ER VALES AND MOUNTAINS, TO EXPLORE "WHAT HEALING VIRTUE SWELLS THE TENDER VEINS "OF HERBS AND FLOWERS; OR WHAT THE BEAMS OF MORN "DRAW FORTH, DISTILLING FROM THE CLIFTED RIND "IN BALMY TEARS. But some to higher hopes "Were destin'd.". THE PLEASURES OF IMAGINATION. Book I. 1. 79---97. ELEMENTS OF BOTANY. "Nec dubitamus, multa esse, quæ & nos præterierint. HOMINES ENIN SUMUS & OCCUPATI OFFICIIS." C. PLINII SECUNDI LINNÆUS has made a general division of the plant, or vegetable, into three parts, viz. the RADIX, the HERBA, and the FRUCTIFICATIO. Of each of these. parts, and of their various subordinate divisions, I shall speak in the order in which I have mentioned them. I prefer this order in treating my subject, as being more natural, or at least more facile and more simple, than that of those writers who begin their delineation of vegetables with an account of the fructification. In the very commencement of my subject, at least, I follow the "SWEDISH SAGE"*. SECTION I. OF THE ROOT. THE Radix, or Root, is the lower part of the vege table, which is generally attached to the earth, from which it derives various nutritious principles, which it * See his Philosophia Botanica, &c. p. 37. conveys to every part of the plant. It supports the Herba and the Fructificatio. THE root consists of two parts, which are denominated Caudex* and Radiculat. By the term caudex, Linnæus means the stock, or main body of the root; and by the term radicula, the stringy or fibrous part of the root, which, in the greater number of vegetables, terminates the main root, and is supposed to be that part of the root which is especially concerned in absorbing nourishment from the earth. In the language of Linnæus, the caudex is either descending or ascending. The caudex descendens, or descending caudex, strikes gradually downward into the ground, and puts forth radicles, or small fibres, which are generally regarded as the principal and really essential part of every root. The caudex ascendens, or ascending caudex, is that part of the root which gradually raises itself above the ground, serving frequently the place of a trunk or stem, and produces the herb. It is the descending caudex only which entirely corresponds to the term radix, or root, as it is employed by other botanists. The term caudex ascendens corresponds, in some measure, to the caudex of Malpighi, and other naturalists, who, following the authority of classical writers, designate by this name, the stem, trunk, or bole of a tree. THE distinction of Linnæus is, at least, ingenious. It is founded upon this fact, that trees and shrubs, when * Caudex, from cado, to cut down. Radicula, strictly speaking, a little root. they are inverted, put forth leaves from the descending caudex, or proper root; and radicles, or roots, from the ascending caudex, or stem. Accordingly, the Swedish naturalist considers trees and shrubs "as roots above ground*.” In a philosophical analysis of the vegetable, this may, perhaps, be a just view of the subject: but it is not probable, that the distinction of the great naturalist will ever be generally admitted by the bulk of mankind; not even by those who are somewhat accustomed to speculate upon the nature of plants. We have so long been in the habit of regarding as the root, only that part of the vegetable which is buried under, or is immediately in connection with, the earthf, that it will be a difficult matter to bring ourselves to think, that the stem or bole of a tree can, with strict propriety, be considered as a part of its root. THE botanists have described various species of roots. I shall treat of the principal of them, under the following heads: viz. 1. of Roots, in respect to form, or shape: 2. of Roots, in respect to their direction, or manner of growth: 3. of Roots, in respect to their duration: and, lastly, I shall add some miscellaneous circumstances, concerning the natural history of roots, reserving, however, the completion of the subject for the second and third parts of these Elements. "Arbores Fruticesque omnes itaque sunt Radices supra terram. Ergo Arbor "verticaliter inverse, e caudice descendente, fert Folia, ex adsendente Radiculas.” Philosophia Botanica, &c. p. 39. To this idea, however, there are exceptions, which I shall not omit to notice. §. I. OF ROOTS, IN RESPECT TO THEIR FORM, OR SHAPE. Roors, with respect to their form or shape, may principally be referred to the following species, or perhaps more properly varieties: viz. 1. Radix fibrosa: 2. Radix fusiformis: 3. Radix tuberosa: 4. Radix præmorsa: 5. Radix granulata; and, 6. Radix bul bosa. 1. THE radix fibrosa, or fibrous root, consists entirely, or principally, of a number of fibrous radicles, each of which is more slender than the base of the trunk or stem, to which it is attached. The greater number of the Gramina, or Grasses, such as the Wheat, the Rye, the Oat, the Barley, the Rice, &c. furnish us with the best examples of this form of root. In the grasses, the fibres proceed from a small knot at the base of the stem. This kind of root, consisting of very slender fibres, is sometimes denominated Radix capillacea*; or the hairy root. THE term fibrous root comprehends a very great number of roots, which, as being more slender than the base of the stem or bole, may, with propriety, be arranged under this head. Such are the roots of the greater number of trees and shrubs. 2. THE radix fusiformis, called in English fusiform or spindle-shaped root†, is a species of root, which ta * From Capillus, a hair. The fusiform-root is best known, in many parts of the United-States, by the name of "tap-root." There can, I believe, be little doubt, that the earlier settlers |