48 CRYPTOGAM I A. 



an Azalea, or a Night-shade ; whether it be a 

 tree two hundred feet high, or a primrose at his feet j d 

 but, by combining this knowledge with an exami- 

 nation of all the most obvious appearances of 

 every part of the flower, or according to the Lin- 

 naean language, the seven parts of fructification, 

 he identifies it; and when with a more compre- 

 hensive view he can assign to it a place in the 

 oeconomy of nature ; agreeable to its configuration, 

 appearance, and habit, he may be said to be acquainted 

 with this first division of his subject, so far as con- 

 cerns the particular Genus which is the subject of 

 investigation. 



The genera and species of plants are established 

 in nature, the knowledge of which can alone be con- 

 sidered as worthy of constituting that department of 

 botanical information which comes under the head of 

 Nomenclature, if this department can be said' to have 

 any pretension to the dignity of a science. 



A familiar notion of a Geyius may be readily ap- 

 prehended by comparing it to a great family, as the 



S In this artificial arrangement of Linnaeus, in some in- 

 stances, species are even separated from their Genus. The Sweet- 

 scented Vernal-grass, Rice, and Zizania, are ail separated from 

 each other and from the tribe of grasses to which they belong. 

 Some of the Rushes are separated from the rest. The two 

 common Elms of the country are in two different Classes, and 

 the five species of Rhubarb, according to their natural affinity, 

 ought to be united with the Rumex, or common dock. 



