# The anatomy of plants

The anatomy of plants ist ein 1682 in London erschienenes englischsprachiges Werk zur Pflanzenanatomie von Nehemiah Grew. Es war über 100 Jahre lang das maßgebliche Lehrbuch zu diesem Thema und wurde ins Französische (1685) sowie Italienische (1763) übersetzt.

## Werk

Der Folio-Band trägt den vollständigen Titel The anatomy of plants with an idea of a philosophical history of plants, and several other lectures, read before the royal society. Er wurde 1682 in London durch William Rawlins gedruckt und besteht aus neun eigenständigen Teilen. Der Band ist mit 83 Kupferstichen illustriert. Der Hauptteil besteht aus vier Büchern mit insgesamt 212 nummerierten Seiten. Die ersten drei Bücher sind eine zweite Auflage seiner früher veröffentlichten Schriften The anatomy of vegetables begun (1672), An idea of a phytological history propounded (1673) und The comparative anatomy of trunks (1675). Ergänzt wird das Werk durch sieben Vorträge die Grew von 1674 bis 1677 vor den Mitgliedern der Royal Society hielt.
Das Werk ist dem König von England Karl II. gewidmet.

### Entstehungsgeschichte

In der Vorrede zum Werk bekundet Grew, dass sein Interesse für die Anatomie der Pflanzen 1664 geweckt wurde, als er sich mit der Anatomie der Tiere beschäftigte. Nur wenige Autoren hätten bis dahin derartige Untersuchungen angestellt, so Nathaniel Highmore in The History of Generation (1651), Robert Sharrock (1630–1684) in The history of the propagation (1660) und Robert Hooke in Micrographia (1665). Um diese Zeit hatte er eine Anzahl von Samen erworben mit denen er einen Pflanzengarten anlegte. Erste Ergebnisse zeigte er 1668 seinem Halbbruder Henry Sampson (1629–1700). Dieser begrüßte das Unterfangen und wies ihn auf eine Passage in Francis Glisson Vorwort zu dessen Anatomia Hepatis (1654) hin. Darin schlug dieser vor, dass das Studium der Pflanzen nützlich seine könne, um den Aufbau der Tiere zu besser zu verstehen. Wenige Jahre später hatte Grew das Manuskript fertiggestellt. Er zeigte Teile davon erneut Henry Sampson. Dieser gab diese sofort Henry Oldenburg, dem Sekretär der Royal Society, der John Wilkins darauf aufmerksam machte. Am 11. Mai 1671 wurde das vollständige Werk dem Council der Royal Society vorgestellt und der Druck desselben beauftragt. Das Werk erschien Ende 1671.
Am 8. und 15. Januar 1672 referierte Grew über die verschiedenen Methoden, mit denen Pflanzen untersucht werden könnten. Weitere Vorträge über die Anatomie der Wurzeln mündeten 1673 in der Veröffentlichung von An idea of a phytological history propounded. Seine 1675 erschienene vergleichende Anatomie der Stängel The comparative anatomy of trunks war das Ergebnis zweier Vorträge am 25. Februar 1675 und 17. Juni 1675, für das am 21. Oktober 1675 der Druckauftrag erteilt wurde. Die noch nicht veröffentlichten Vorträge vom 26. Oktober 1676 über die Anatomie der Blätter, vom 9. November 1676 über die der Blüten sowie der Früchte und Samen aus dem Jahr 1677 bilden das vierte Buch von The anatomy of plants.
Am 22. Februar 1682 ordnete der Council der Royal Society an Grews bisherige Schriften und unveröffentlichte Vorträge zur Pflanzenanatomie in einem Band zu drucken. Weitere sieben Vorträge aus dem Zeitraum 1674 bis 1677 ergänzen das Werk.

### Inhalt

The anatomy of plants enthält zahlreiche, sowohl mit dem bloßen Auge als auch mit dem Mikroskop, durchgeführte Beobachtungen über die Entwicklung des Samens, der Wurzel, des Stängels, der Blüten und der Früchte der Pflanzen. Grew bestätigte die Existenz von pflanzlichen Zellen („bladders“) und schuf anatomische Fachausdrücke wie Radicula („radicle“) für die Wurzelanlage und bezeichnet mit Plumula („plume“) die ersten Blattanlagen. Bei den Gewebeformen unterscheidet Grew das undifferenzierte Parenchym („parenchyma“), die Siebröhren („lymphaeducts“), Milchröhren („milk vessels“), Leitgefäße („roriferous vessels“, „succiferous vessels“) und Luftgefäße („air vessels“). Grew erkannte, dass die Staubblätter („attire“) die Rolle des männlichen Partners bei der geschlechtlichen Fortpflanzung der Pflanzen spielen. Eine Idee, die er etwa zeitgleich mit Thomas Millington (1628–1704) hatte.

### Gliederung

* [Widmung]
* The preface (Vorwort)
* An idea of a Philosophical History of plants. Read before the Royal Society, January 8. and January 15. 1672.
* [Titelseite]
* The contents (Inhalt)
* [First Book]
** The Anatomy of Plants, begun. with a General Account of Vegetation, Grounded thereupon. Presented in Manuscript to the Royal Society, Sometime before the 11th of May, 1671. And afterwards in Print, December 7. of the same Year 1671.
** [Titelseite]
** [Widmung] an John Wilkins
** The contents.
** Chap. I. Of the Seed in its State of Vegetation.
** Chap. II. Of the Root.
** Chap. III. Of the Trunk.
** Chap. IV. Of the Bud, Branch, and Leaf.
** Chap. V. Of the Flower.
** Chap. VI. Of the Fruit.
** Chap. VII. Of the Seed in its State of Generation.
* [Second Book]
** The Anatomy of Roots; Presented to the Royal Society at several times, in the Years, 1672 & 1673. With an Account of the Vegetation of Roots, Grounded chiefly hereupon.
** [Titelseite]
** [Widmung] an William Brouncker, 2. Viscount Brouncker
** The contents.
*** Part I: The anatomy of roots; prosecuted with the bare eye, and with the microscope.
**** Chap. I. Of the Original, Figures, Motions, and Ages of Roots.
**** Chap. II. Of the Skin.
**** Chap. III. Of the Barque.
**** Chap. IV. Of the Wood.
**** Chap. V. Of the Pith.
*** Part II: An account of the vegetation of roots. Grounded chiefly upon the foregoing anatomy.
* [Third Book]
** The Anatomy of Trunks, With an Account of their Vegetation. Grounded thereupon. The Figurres hereunto belonging, Presented to the Royal Society in the Years, 1673 & 1674.
** [Titelseite]
** [Widmung] an William Brouncker, 2. Viscount Brouncker
** The contents.
*** Part I: The Anatomy of Trunks; prosecuted With the bare Eye, And with the Microscope.
**** Chap. I. The Descriptions of several Trunks, as they appear to the bare Eye.
**** Chap. II. Of the Barque, as it appears through a good Microscope.
**** Chap. III. Of the Wood.
**** Chap. IV. Of the Pith.
*** Part II: An Account of the Vegetation of Trunks Grounded upon the foregoing Anatomy.
**** Chap. I. Of the Motion and Course of the Sap.
**** Chap. II. Of the Motion and Course of the Aer.
**** Chap. III. Of the Structure of the Parts.
**** Chap. IV. Of the Generation of Liquors.
**** Chap. V. Of the Figuration of Trunks.
**** Chap. VI. Of the Motions of Trunks.
**** Chap. VII. Of the Nature of Timber or Trunks, as they serve for Mechanick Use.
* [Fourth book]
** The Anatomy of Leaves, Flowers, Fruits and Seeds.
** [Titelseite]
** Part I: The Anatomy of Leaves, prosecuted With the bare Eye, And with the Microscope. Read before the Royal Society, Octob. 26. 1676.
*** The contents of the First Part.
*** [Widmung] an Robert Boyle
*** Chap. I. Of the Protections and Folds of Leaves.
*** Chap. II. Of those things which appear upon the Surface of the Leaf.
*** Chap. III. Of the Figure of the Leaf; and the Apparent Position of the Fibres.
*** Chap. IV. Of the Parts and Texture of the Leaf.
*** Chap. V. Of the Duration of Leaves, and the Time of their Generation.
*** Chap. VI. Of the Manner of the Generation of the Leaf. Where also, that of the Two General Parts of a Plant, sc. the Lignous and Parenchymous, is further explain'd.
** Part II: The Anatomy of Flowers, prosecuted With the bare Eye, And with the Microscope. Read before the Royal Society, Novemb. 9. 1676.
** [Titelseite]
** The contents of the Second Part.
** Chap. I. Of the Empalement.
** Chap. II. Of the Foliature.
** Chap. III. Of the Attire, and first of that sort which may be called Seminiform.
** Chap. IV, Of the Florid Attire.
** Chap. V. Of the Use of the Attire.
** Chap. VI. Of the Time of the Generation of the Flower.
** The Appendix: Being a Method proposed, for the ready finding, by the Leaf and Flower, to what Sort any Plant belongeth.
* Part III: The Anatomy of Fruits, prosecuted With the bare Eye, And with the Microscope. Read before the Royal Society, in the Year 1677.
** [Titelseite]
** The contents of the Third Part.
** Chap. I. Of the Apple; and of the Limon, and Cucumer, the Fruits of Plants vulgarly called Pomiferous.
** Chap. II. Of the Pear and Quince.
** Chap. III. Of the Plum, and some other Fruits of the same Kindred.
** Chap. IV. Of the Grape, and Hazel-Nut; with some other Fruits, analogous to each of them.
** Chap. V. Of the Seed-Case or Membraneous Uterus.
** Chap. VI. Of the Use of the Parts to the Fruit.
** Chap. VII. Of the Use of the Parts to the Seed. And the Time, in which the Uterus or Fruit and Seed-Case are formed.
* Part IV: The Anatomy of Seeds, prosecuted With the bare Eye, And with the Microscope. The Figures presented to the Royal Society, in the Year 1677.
** [Titelseite]
** The contents of the Fourth Part.
** Chap. I. Of the Figures of Seeds.
** Chap. II. Of the Number and Motions of Seeds.
** Chap. III. Of the several Covers of Seeds, and of the Vitellum.
** Chap. IV. Of the Foetus or true Seed: and first of the Radicle and Lobes.
** Chap. V. Of the Buds of Seeds. And of the Parts, of which these, the Radicle, and Lobes are compounded.
** Chap. VI. Of the Generation of the Seed.
* Several Lectures Read before the Royal Society.
* [Titelseite]
* The titles Of the following Lectures.
* [Widmung] an William Brouncker, 2. Viscount Brouncker
** Lect. I: A Discourse Read before the Royal Society Decemb. 10. 1674. Concerning the Nature, Causes, and Power of Mixture.
*** Chap. I. Of the received Doctrine of Mixture.
*** Chap. II. Of the Principles of Bodies.
*** Chap. III. Of the Nature of Mixture.
*** Chap. IV. Of the Causes of Mixture.
*** Chap. V. Of the Power and Use of Mixture.
*** An Appendix to the precedent discourse of Mixture.
** Lect. II: Experiments in Consort of the Luctation Arising from the Affusion of several Menstruums Upon all sorts of Bodies, Exhibited to the Royal Society, April 13. and June 1. 1676.
*** Chap. I. What is generally to be observed upon the Affusion of the Menstruum; and what, particularly of Vegetable Bodies.
*** Chap. II. What may be observed of Minerals.
*** Chap. III. What may be observed of the Parts of Animals.
** Lect. III: An Essay of the Various Proportions Wherein the Lixivial Salt Is found in Plants. Read before the Royal Society, March, 1676.
*** Chap. I. Of the Quantities afforded by several Plants calcined in gross.
*** Chap. II. Of the Quantities afforded by the Parts of several Plants distinctly calcin'd.
** Lect. IV: A Discourse Concerning the Essential and Marine Salts of Plants. Read before the Royal Society, December 21. 1676.
*** Chap. I. In which is shewed the way of making both an Essential and a Marine salt, out of the Lixivial Salt of a Plant.
*** Chap. II. Wherein is shewed, That the said Essential and Marine Salts of Plants are both of different Sorts.
** Lect. V: A Discourse of the Coulours of Plants. Read before the Royal Society, May 3. 1677.
*** Chap. I. Of the Coulours of Plants in their Natural Estate.
*** Chap. II. Of the Coulours of Plants by Infusion.
*** Chap. III. Of the Coulours of Plants produced by their Mixture with other Bodies.
** Lect. VI: A Discourse of the Diversities and Causes of Tasts chiefly in Plants. Read before the Royal Society, March 25. 1675.
*** Chap. I. Of the several Sorts of Simple and Compounded Tafts; and the Degrees of both.
*** Chap. II. Of the Duration and several Termes of Tafts.
*** Chap. III. Of the Subject or Seat of Tafts.
*** Chap. IV. Of the Causes of Tafts.
*** Chap. V. Of the Judgement which may be made of the Virtues of Plants, from their Tafts.
*** An Appendix: Of the Odours of Plants.
*** Tabula, quâ perspicuè videre est, quot Triplicati Sapores, ex solummodo decem Simplicibus numerantur.
*** Tabula, quae Genericas omnes Saporum differentias comprenhedit.
** Lect. VII: Experiments in Consort upon the Solution of Salts in Water. Read before the Royal Society, January, 18. 1676/77.
*** Chap. I. In which is shewed, the Compleat or Utmost Impregnation of Water with several kinds of Salt, both together, and apart.
*** Chap. II. In which is shewed, that by the Solution of Salts in Water, some certain space, more or less, is gained. That the space is different according to the Nature of the Salt. And what the just space is, which is gained.
*** Chap. III. Wherein, from the Experiment in the foregoing Chapter, is shewed, the Cause of the Motion of the Mercury in the Barometer.
* An Index of the Chief Matters, In which, Id. signifies Idea. An. Anatomy. The Figures before §. the Page. The Figures following §. the Section in that Page.
* The Explication of the Tables, Reduced to a narrow compass; as serving to clear those Particulars, chiefly, which the Descriptions before given, have not reached.
* [Tafeln]

### Titelseiten

* Titelblätter der 2. Auflagen
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## Besprechungen (Auswahl)

* The Anatomy of Vegetables begun; with a General accompt of Vegetation, founded thereon. In: Philosophical Transactions. Band 7, Nr. 78, 1671, S. 3037–3043 (Digitalisat).
* An Idea of a Phytological History propounded; together with a Continuation of the Anatomy of Vegetables, particularly prosecuted upon Roots; and an Account of the Vegetation of Roots grounded chiefly thereupon. In: Philosophical Transactions. Band 8, Nr. 97, 1673, S. 6131–6135 (Digitalisat).
* The Comparative Anatomy of Trunks of Plants; together with an Account of their Vegetation grounded thereupon. In: Philosophical Transactions. Band 10, Nr. 120, 1675, S. 486–489 (Digitalisat).
* The Anatomy of Plants: with an Idea of a Philosophical History of Plants: and several other Lectures, read before the Royal Society. In: Philosophical Transactions. Band 13, Nr. 150, 1683, S. 303–307 (Digitalisat).

## Auflagen

* The anatomy of plants with an idea of a philosophical history of plants, and several other lectures, read before the royal society. W. Rawlins, London 1682 (Digitalisat, Volltext).
** Anatomie des plantes. Qui contient une Description exacte de leurs parties & de leurs usages, & qui fait voir comment elles se forment, & comment elles croissent. Lambert Roulland, Paris 1675 (Digitalisat) – enthält nur die ersten drei Teile.
*** 2. Auflage, Antoine Dezallier, Paris 1679.
** Anatomie des plantes […] et L’ame des plantes […] Avec un recueil d’expériences.Pierre Vander Aa, Leiden 1685 (Digitalisat).
*** Neue Auflage, Leiden 1691 (Digitalisat).
*** Anotomia, ed anima delle piante, che contiene Una esatta Descrizione della loro origine, nodrimento, progresso, parti, ed usi, e che da a divedere come si formino, e come crescano. Con una raccolta Di Sperienze, ed Osservazioni curiose sopra il combattimento risultante dalla mescolanza de’ corpi, come anche sopra i Sapori, e sopra gli Odori. Luigi Pavini, Venedig 1763 (Digitalisat).