GYNANDRIA. 

 CLASS XX. 



STAMINA SITUATED ON THl. PISTILLUM, 



This Class has ten Orders in the system of Lin- 

 naeus, but some alterations concerning them having 

 been thought necessaiy, the celebrated Thunberg abo- 

 lished the Class altogether, and he has been followed 

 by several less intelligent writers. The reasons which 

 led to this innovation appear to be, as Dr. Smith ob- 

 serves, from Linnaeus erroneously placing in Gynan- 

 dria several plants which have not the requisite charac- 

 ter; hence the character itself has been judged ambigu- 

 ous, or not founded in nature, and the system has been 

 supposed to be simphlied by overlooking it; but this 

 appears to be a great mistake. The character of the 

 Class, taken as above, is as evident, constant, and 

 genuine, as that of any other in the system; and no 

 uncertainty can arise, if care be taken to observe, that 

 the stamina actually grow out of the germen or st)de 

 and not merely out of any part tliat supports the ger- 

 men, which caused the mistake when Linnaeus con- 

 sidered the Passion flower as gynandrous, and origi- 

 nally placed it in this Class. 



