, 052 GYNANDRIA. 



sides. See Lamarck^ t. 718 — 723, where the plants 

 in question are well represented. 



Class 20. Gyiiandria. Stamens inserted either upon 

 the style or germen. Orders 9 in Linnseus, but some 

 alterations concerning them are necessary. 



This is one of those Classes abolished by the celebra- 

 ted Thunberg, and by several less intelligent writers who 

 have followed him. The reasons which led to this 

 measure appear to have been that Linnaeus has errone- 

 ously placed in Gynandria several plants which have not 

 the requisite character ; hence that character itself has 

 been judged ambiguous, or not founded in nature, and 

 the system has been supposed to be simplified by over- 

 looking it. This appears to me 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. 

 No doubt can arise, if we be careful to observe that the 

 stamens actually grow out of the germen or style, and 

 not merely out of any part that supports the germen ; as 

 will appear by examples* 



1. Monandria. Stamen, or sessile Anther, 1 only. 

 This contains all the beautiful and curious natural 

 family of the Orchidea, or Orchis tribe, except only 

 Cypnpedium^ which belongs to the next Order. I 

 am induced to consider the bulk of this family as mo- 

 nandrous^ upon a careful review of Professor Swartz's 

 representation of the subject, in his excellent treatise, 

 just come to my hands in English. See Tracts rela- 

 tive to Botany translated from different Languages 



