FIRST GRAND DIVISION, 



PHiENOGAMIA, OR FLOWERING PLANTS. 



Plants consisting of a regular axis of growth with leafy appendages ; 



compcsed of a cellular, vascular and ligneous structure ; 



developing flowers and producing seeds. 



SUBDIVISION FIRST. 



EXOGENS, OR DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 



Stem composed of distinct bark and pith, with an intervening laye* 

 of woody fibre and vessels. Growth by annual, concentric, exter- 

 nal zones or layers. Leaves mostly with reticulated veins, and fall- 

 ing off by an articulation. Sepals and petals in 5s and 4 s much 

 oftener than in 3s. Embryo with 2 opposite, or several whorled 

 cotyledons. 



CLASS I. AXGIOSPERMS. 



Ovules produced within an ovary and fertilized by the pollen 

 through the medium of the pistil, becoming seeds enclosed in a 

 PERICARP. Embryo with two opposite cotyledons. 



SUBCLASS I. POLYPETAL^. 



Floral envelops usually consisting of both calyx and corolla, the 

 latter composed of distinct petals. 



Order I. RANUNCULACEJS.— Crowfoots. 



Herts, with an acrki, colorless juice. 



Leaves mostly alternate and much divided, with half-clasping petioles. 



Ca/t/a;.— Sepals mosfb' 5, sometimes 3, 4 or 6, mostly deciduous, andimbricated in sestivation. 



CoroWa.— Petals 3—15, hypogynous, sometimes irreg'ular or 0. 



Stamens 00, distinct, hypogynous. Anthers, adnate or innate. 



Ovaries 00, rarely solitary or few, distinct, seated on the torus. 



Fruit either dry achenia, or baccate, or follicular. 



Embryo minute, at the base of horny or fleshy albumen. 



Genera 41, species about 1000 (Lindley), mostly natives of cold, damp climates. Europe is supposed 

 (o contam one fifth of the species. North America one-seventh, India one-twenty-fifth. South America 

 one-seventeenth, Africa very few, and New Holland but 18. 



Prop«m:as.— Almost all the genera contain an acrid juice highly prejudicial to animal life, but easily 

 decomposed and depnyed pf its activity by a heat of 212 deg. They also lose their poisonous qualities iu 

 ntyms. This order is rich m ornamental cultivated plants. 



