458 <JYNANDRIA. 



This is one of those Classes abolished by 

 the celebrated Thunberg, and by several less 

 intellisrent writers who have followed him. 

 The reasons which led to this measure appear 

 to have been that Linnaeus has erroneously 

 placed in Gynandna 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 overlooking 

 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 Orchklea, or 

 Orchis tribe, except only Cypripedium, 

 which belongs to the next Order. I am 

 induced to consider the bulk of this family 

 ?is T^ionandrous, upon a careful review of 



