470 MONOECIA. 



Class 21. Monoecia. Stamens and Pistils 

 in separate flowers, but both growing on 

 the same individual plant. Orders 9 or 10. 



Several reformers of the Linnaean system 

 have also abolished this Class and the two 

 following, by way of rendering that system 

 more simple. Ten years' additional ex-^ 

 perience since the preface to the 7th vo- 

 lume of JLngUah Botany was written, have 

 but confirmed my opinion on this subject. 

 If any plants ought to be removed fronx 

 these Classes, they must be such as have 

 the structure of all the accessory parts of 

 the flower exactly alike, (the essential 

 parts, or stamens and pistils only, differ-, 

 ing,) in both barren and fertile flow^ers; 

 and especially such as have in one flower 

 perfect organs of one kind, accompanied 

 by rudiments of the other kind, for these 

 rudiments are liable occasionally to be-* 

 come perfect. By this means dioecious 

 species of a genius, as in Lychnis^ Valeri- 

 ana^ Humex, &c., would no longer be a 

 reproach or inconvenience to the system, 

 But, on the other hand, some difficulty 

 would occasionally arise to a student, in 



