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12

ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS.

Poi.ygynia. Examp. — Rosa, Rose ; Rulus, Bramble ; PoteiUilla,Cinqnefuil; Tormentilla, Tormentil.

POLYANDRIA contains seven orders.

Monocynia. Examp. — Papaver, Poppy; Nymphea, Water-Lily;Tilia, Lime-Tree.

Digynia. Examp.— Pieonia, Peony.

Triqyma. Examp, — Oelphin'um, Larkspur; Aconiium, Monks-hood.

Examp.— Cimicijuga, Bug-bane.

Examp.— Nigella, Devil in the Bush, or Garden Fen-

Tetragvnia.Pet*"iagynia.iiel Flower.

HlXAGYNIA.

POI.YGYSIA.

F.xamp.— Straddles, Water-Soldier.Examp. — Ranunculus, Crowfoot; Trollius, GlobeFlower; Helleberus, Hellebore; Caltha, Water-Marigold; Adonis,"Pheasant's Eve.

As the classes and orders are thus far distinguished by the number ofstamens and pistils, it will be needless to comment further on them inthis place, as the plants are easily referred to for comparison in eachcase.

DIDYNAMIA, The orders in this clas= are two in number, and aredistinguished by the seed-vessel. Thus the first is called

Gymnospermia, seeds naked, i. e. contained in the bottom of the calyxwithout any covering, as is seen in Lamiuni, Dead-Nettie; and Scutel-laria, Scullcap. The second,

Angiospermia, having covered seeds, i. e. growing in a capsule orseed-vessel, as it is to he observed in Antirrhinum, Snapdragon; Rhi-nanthus, Yellow Rattle; Euphrasia, Eye-bright| Pedicularis, Lousewort.

TETRADYNAMIA. The orders in this cla*s are named from theseed-vessels, which will require a little explanation. It was observedin the character of this, p. "7, that we referred to this place for a moregeneral description ; in which it will not be amiss to state, thatthe plants of this class form of themselves a natural division, sothat it is only necessary for the student to know its character, at-■©nee to distinguish it. Thus the bloom of the Cabbage, the SingleWall-flower, or the Radish, will, on inspection, be found to be com-posed of four petals; the claws of each of which are long, and fixedin a calyx of four leaves which are of considerable length. Thelimbs of the four petals will be found to form a cross, being regularlyplaced in pairs opposite each other ; and this character is so general,that it induced Tournefort to form them into a natural order, underthe name of Crocrfijrm plants.

If the student will only take any flower which is of this class andexamine the above character, he will find it so generally to apply,that nothing further, in illustrating this subject, will be found neces-sary to add to what is given in its proper place.

7'he name of the first order.(of which there are two) is SlHCDLOSA)