ARTIFICIAL SYSTEM. 49 



as the divisions of the Calyx and Corolla, being fre- 

 quently multiplied by luxuriance of soil, to the great 

 delight of florists, but much to the inconvenience of 

 botanists. So also the Stamens and Pistils are often 

 transformed to Petals, which constitutes a double 

 Flower. 



In the Classes with separated Flowers, accidents 

 occur with regard to the situation of the Stamens or 

 Pistils. If the structure of the other parts of the 

 Flower be alike, in every individual, both these or- 

 gans are liable to meet in the same Flower; just as, 

 on the other hand, they occasionally are met with 

 separate, in Classes, or in some Species of Genera, to 

 which united Flowers naturally belong (65). Hence 

 so great a proportion of trees in hot climates, as well 

 as of grasses in all climates, are polygamous; having 

 the characters of the 23d Class, as defined by its 

 author Linnaeus. But if respect be always had to 

 the accessory parts of a Flower (53, 54), as well as 

 the essential ones (58, 59), and those are found dif- 

 ferent in structure, number, or otherwise, such Flow- 

 ers must remain permanently distinct. Such only 

 would I admit, into the Class Polygamia, by which 

 measure botanists in tropical countries are relieved 

 from one of the greatest of inconveniences. 



I have even ventured to suggest, Introd. to Bo- 

 tany, ed. 3. 368, ed. 5. 394, that the 21st, 22nd, and 

 23d Classes of the Linnsean system might possibly 

 be well reduced to one, under the name of Diclinia 



E 



