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THEOPHRASTUS

ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS

 

BOOK I

Of the Parts of Plants and their Composition. Of Classification.

Introductory: How plants are to he classified; difficulty of defining what are the essential 'parts' of a plant especially if plants are assumed to correspond to animals.

I. In considering the distinctive characters of plants and their nature generally one must take into account their^[1] parts, their qualities,^[2] the ways in which their life originates, and the course which it follows in each case: (conduct and activities we do not find in them, as we do in animals). Now the differences in the way in which their life originates, in their qualities and in their life-history are comparatively easy to observe and are simpler, while those shewn^[3] in their parts present more complexity. Indeed it has not even been satisfactorily determined what ought and what ought not to be called 'parts,' and some difficulty is involved in making the distinction.

Now it appears that by a 'part,' seeing that it is something which belongs to the plant's characteristic nature, we mean something which is permanent either absolutely or when once it has appeared (like those parts of animals which remain for a time undeveloped)

3

1. τὰ ins. Sch. om. Ald.H.
2. πάθν, a more general word than δυνάμεις, 'virtues': ef. 1. 5. 4.; 8. 4. 2.; it seems to be it seems to mean here something like 'behaviour,' in relation to environment. Instances of πάθν are given 4. 2. 11; 4. 14. 6.
3. ἔχουσι conj. H. ἔχουσαι W. with Ald.