FIRST GRAND DIVISION, 



PHiENOGAMIA, OR FLOWERING PLANTS. 



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



compcsed of a cellidar^ 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 layer 

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

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

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

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

 cotyledons. 



CLiASS 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. RANUNCULACE^.— Crowfoots. 



lltrht, with nn ncriil, colorless juice. 



Leave-1 mostly alternate uiul much divided, with hnlfclaiipinff petioles. 



Calyx.— i^t'imU mostly 5, sometimes 3, 4 or 6, mostly (leciduoim.aniiimlirirated in sestivation. 



Coro//a.— Petni.s 3—15, hypoRynou:*, BometimcH iireKularor 0. 



Stament 00, distinct, hytiojrynous. Anthem, ndnato or iiinatr. 



OvariM 00, rarely solitary or few, distinct, seated on the torti.s. 



fVt/ir either firy uchcnia. <»r haccate, or lolliriilar. 



Embryo minute, at tlie ba-se of horny or fleshy alhumcn. 



Oenem 41, species about 1000 (I.inrUry), mostly natives of cold, damp climates. Etiropo is suppmcd 

 to contain one tifth of the species, North America one-seventh, India one twenty-fifth. South America 

 oneneTonteenlh, Africa very few, and New Holland but IS. 



PrnpertiM.—Wmoxl all the eenera contain an acrid juice highly prejudicial to animal life, but enttilr 

 decomposed and deprived of it^i activity by a heat of 'il2 dei?. They also lose their iKiisonoun nualitie* ni 

 drying. This order is rich in ornamental cultivated plants. 



