Theophrasti De Historia Plantarum (1483 Incunabulum)

each year always take on growth both in the upper parts and around the roots. For which reason, if anyone asserts that these are parts, it will follow that the multitude of parts is uncertain, and that a part is never the same. But if he denies that they are parts, it will immediately happen that those by which plants are rendered perfect are not parts at all, and they are observed to be such. For all [plants], when they sprout, are green, bear fruit, are more beautiful, and are more perfect, and they are and seem to be. These are, for the most part, the ambiguities in these things. But perhaps it is not proper to seek all things by an equal reason, neither in the rest nor in those things that pertain to generation. And those things that arise every year are by no means to be placed in the genus of parts, such as fruit. For the offspring of animals cannot be parts [of the parent]. But if, by the mildness of the season, plants are rendered most beautiful in appearance, that beauty itself is no indication. For animals also, while they carry their young, are rendered fuller and more beautiful. Many also [lose] parts which they lose by the years, such as stags their antlers, birds nesting their feathers, quadrupeds their hair. Therefore, I would not say it was done rashly, especially since that affection is very similar to the shedding of leaves. Likewise, one must discern concerning those things which pertain to generation. For even in the genus of animals, some things are born at the same time, some are separated as if they were alien to nature. Sprouting seems to be no different. For the generation itself is for the sake of perfect generation, but to sum up, as we have said, not everything should be accepted similarly to how it is in animals. For which reason, the number is also uncertain. For the power of sprouting is held from everywhere, since it is also animated from everywhere. It is fitting to think these things not only for the sake of the present matter, but also for the future. And for we must contend to assimilate things that cannot be assimilated; that is certainly superfluous and to be rejected, lest we lose the very proper speculation of the thing. The history of plants, however, to speak simply, can be had either through external parts and the whole form, or through internal ones. Just as in the genus of animals, the hidden parts are revealed by dissections. But it is necessary to take in these very things those which are inherent in all, the same things and what are proper to each genus. And also what are held as similar in these. I mean the leaf, the root, and the bark. Nor should it escape us. But what should be understood by proportion? As in the genus of animals, by reducing them to those things which are contained as most similar, most manifest, and most perfect. To sum up, all things which are observed in the genus of plants, the similarity is to be sought from those things which are inherent in animals, as far as it can be done. Therefore, let it be pleasing to determine these things in this way. The differences of parts, to embrace the matter with a formula, consist in almost three things. Either in that some have and some do not have, such as leaves and fruits. Or that they have things that are not similar and not equal. Or thirdly, that they do not have them similarly. The dissimilarity of these becomes known by figure, color, density, rarity, roughness, smoothness, and other affections. To these, in all differences, is the disparity of tastes, but it is in excess and defect, of multitude or magnitude; so that it may be said with "fat Minerva" an expression meaning to speak without refined wit or, in this context, to speak plainly and simply, and all those things are distinguished by excess and defect.