ON THE CLASSIFICATION OV PLANTS. 13

which derives its name from the form of the seed-vessel, i. e. a smallshort pod, called aSilicle. The characters of the orders are as follows—

SiuctJtosA. A two-valved pericarp, having the seeds fixed alongboth sutures. It varies in shape, being orbiculate, ovate, or flatted,entire at the end, or emarginate. Examp.— Myagrum, Gold of Pleasure ;Iberis, Candytuft.

Siliquosa, i. e. seeds contained in a vessel of a more long descrip-tion, and which is thus defined :—An oblong membranaceous two-valved pericarp, having the seeds fixed along both sutures. Examp.—Brassica, Cabbage ; Cardamme, Cuckow-gower-j Raphanus, Radish.

The orders in the class MONADELPHIA will be found to be formednot on the pistil or seed-vessel. But if we consider the character ofthe class, we remember the stamens are united in a curious mannerround the pistil, so as to form a pillar in the centre; and this issubject to so little variation, generally speaking, that we have the cha-racter of the class fixed by only considering one flower, i. c. the Com-mon Mallow, or the Holyoak ; and we need no further example to en-able us to form a complete acquaintance with the class. It is also afortunate circumstance, which facilitates the progress of the knowledgeof the orders, that the stamens differing in number enables us to castthe different flowers into their orders at once; the following are litecharacters that will be found to apply.

MONADELPHIA contains eight orders.

Tuiandria. Examp.— Galaxia.

Pen'tandria. Examp.— Hermannia, Melochia.

Octandria. Examp.— Aitonia.

EnNEANDria. Examp.— Dryandria.

Decandria. Examp.'— Bvgonia, Geranium.

Endecandria. Examp.— Browntea.

Dodecandma. Examp.— Penlapetes.

Pgi.yaxdria. Examp.— Camellia; Hiliscus, Bladder Ketmia; ta-vatera : Malua, Mallow ; Alcea, Holyoak, &c.

In the class DIADELPIIIA we are not less fortunate in finding aneasy indication of our orders. But as this class is composed of thePapilionaceous or Butterfly flowers, whose petals are differently con-structed, and which forms a pleasing diversity in the science of clas-sification, I shall, I am sure, render pleasure to the lover of flowers bydescribing their several parts fully in this place. Thus, if I take theHower of a Pea, I find one laige petal, which is fixt on the back of theower, and which makes a conspicuous appearance; and this we call theyexillum, or Standard: there 'is also a petal on each side, which arecalled Aix, or Wings; below which is seen a greenish-white part likethe inverted keel of a boat, and called from that circumstance theCarina. When this is removed we observe the germ or rudiment of the

ea >™> Su i'iounding which, and apparently connected, are the stamens,one set on one edge and one set on the other; thus forming two brother-

hoods-— frvol.. I.

"Om whence the name of the class.