《论衡·卷三·初禀篇》
草木从种子里长出，出土后成为幼苗、嫩芽，逐渐长出茎与叶，长得长短粗细各不相同，这都是由种子决定的。
草木生於实核，出土为栽蘖，稍生茎叶，成为长短巨细，皆有实核。
Grass and trees grow from seeds. After emerging from the soil, they become seedlings and tender buds, and gradually grow stems and leaves of different lengths and thicknesses, all of which are determined by the seeds.