which lies betwixt the Nerves, and as in Gentlewomens Needle-works,
fills all up, is nothing else, but the continuation of the Cortical Body,
or Parenchymous part of the Barque from the Branch into it self, as in
most Plants with a thick Leaf, may easily be seen.
8. §. The Fibers of the Leaf neither shoot out of the Branch, or
the Trunk, nor stand in the Stalk, in an even Line; but alwayes in
either an Angular or Circular posture; and usually making either a
Triangle, or a Semi-Circle, or Chord of a Circle; as in Cichory, Endive,
Cabbage, &c. may be observed. And if the Leaf have but one main Fi∣ber,
that also is postur'd in a bowed or Lunar Figure; as in Mint and
others. The usual number of these Vascular Threds or Fibres is 3, 5, or 7.
9. §. The reason of the said Positions of the Fibers in the Stalk of
the Leaf, is for its more Erect growth, and greater Strength: which,
were the position of the said Fibers in an even Line, and so the Stalk
it self, as well as the Leaf, flat; must needs have been defective; as
from what we have said of the Circumferential posture of the Lignous
Body in the Trunk, we may better conceive.
10. §. As likewise for the security of its Sap: For by this means
it is, that the several Fibers, and especially the main or middle Fiber
of the Leaf, together with a considerable part of the Parenchyma, are
so disposed of, as to jut out, not from its upper, but its back, or
neither Side. Whence the whole Leaf, reclining backward, becomes
a Canopy to them, defending them from those Injuries which from
colder Blasts, or an hotter Sun, they might otherwise sustain. So
that by a mutual benefit, as These give suck to all the Leaf, so that
again protection to These.
11. §. These Fibers are likewise the immediate Visible Cause of the
Shape of the Leaf. For if the nethermost Fiber or Fibers in the Stalk
(which thence runs chiefly through the length of the Leaf) be in pro∣portion
greater, the Leaf is long; as in Endive, Cichory, and others:
If all of a more equal size, it spreads rounder, as in Ivy, Doves-foot,
Colts foot, &c. And although a Dock-Leaf be very long, whose
Fibers notwithstanding, as they stand higher in the Stalk, are disposed
into a Circle all of an equal size; yet herein one or more peculiar
Fibres, standing, in or near the Center, betwixt the rest, and running
through the length of the Leaf, may be observed.
12. §. In correspondence also to the size and shape of these Fibres,
is the Leaf flat. In that either they are very small, or if larger, yet
they never make an entire Circle or Ring; but either half of one, as
in Borage, or at most three parts of one, as in Mullen, may be seen.
For if either they were so big, as to contain, or so entire, as perfectly
to include a Pith, the Energy of the Sap in that Pith, would cause
the said Lignous Ring to shoot forth on every side, as it doth in the
Root or Trunk: But the said Fibers being not figur'd into an entire
Ring, but so as to be open; on that hand therefore where open
they cannot shoot any thing directly from themselves, because there
they have nothing to shoot; and the Sap having also a free vent
through the said opening, against that part therefore which is there∣unto
oppsite, it can have no force; and so neither will they shoot
forth on that hand; and so will they consequently, that way only,
which the force of the Sap directs, which is only on the right and
left.