108 BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS. [Ch. XVIII 



olance in the general appearance of these plants, and that an 

 arrangement, which thus brings them together, is properly call- 

 ed an a rtijicial method. 



454. Many families of plants possess a marked resemblance 

 in form and qualities, and appear evidently as distinct tribes. 

 If the whole of the vegetable kingdom could thus be distributed 

 into natural classes, the study of botany would be much simpli- 

 fied ; but it has already been remarked, that there are many 

 plants which cannot be thus arranged, and no principle has yet 

 been discovered for systematic arrangement, which bears any 

 comparison to the Artificial System. 



455. Here plants are conveniently arranged, like words in a 

 dictionary, and thus easily found out. and referred to their na- 

 tural classes : no other system exists which can with certainty 

 direct us to these classes. 



In commencing our remarks upon some of the natural fami- 

 lies, we will first consider the 



LILIACEOUS FLOWERS. 



456. These flowers consist of six petals, spreading gradually 

 from the base, and exhibiting a kind of bell-form appearance, 

 but differing from the bell-form flowers in being polypetalous. 



457. The number of stamens in the Liliaceous plants is ge- 

 nerally six, sometimes but three ; they are usually alternate with 

 the petals. 



458. The germ of the Liliaceous plants is always of a trian 

 gular form, and contains three cells ; the roots are mostly 

 bulbous. 



459. The Lily has a scaly buib, the Onion a iunicated or 

 coated bulb, the Tulip has a bulb which seems almost solid and 

 tuberous. 



460. The calyx is mostly wanting in Liliaceous plants, the 

 stems are simple without branches ; the leaves entire, and nerved. 

 To this family belong the Tulip, Lily, Crown-imperial, Dog- 

 tooth-violet, &c. Plants of this natural family usually belong 

 to the class Hexandria; the Crocus having three stamens, be- 



ongs to the class Triandria. 



454. Can all plants be easily arranged in distinct tribes? 



455. How are plants arranged in the artificial system? 

 450. Describe the corolla of liliaceous flowers. 



457. What is said of the stamens of liliaceous plants 1 



458. What is saLl of the germ 1 



459. Of the root or bulb 1 



460 Of the calyx, stems, leaves, &c. *? 



