Vlll PREFACE. 



or Monocotyledons : the structure of the leaves tells him 

 this, and he decides for Dicotyledons. He next inquires 

 if it has the seeds naked or in a capsule ; and ascertaining 

 that the latter is the case, he knows it belongs to Angio- 

 spermae. He then finds it to be polypetalous, and that 

 the stamens are hypogynous, or those of the division called 

 Thalamiflorae. Having proceeded thus far, he is led to 

 inquire whether the carpella are in a state of combina- 

 tion, or distinct; and finding the former to be the case, 

 he sees that his plant is referable to what are called 

 Syncarpse, among Polypetalous Dicotyledons with hypo- 

 gynous stamens. Now the artificial divisions of this sec- 

 tion are seen to depend, in the first instance, upon the 

 structure of the ovarium : that organ is examined, and 

 is found to be 1-celled, with the ovules parietal. Among 

 plants of this nature the placentae are either linear and 

 contracted, or branched all over the surface of the valves ; 

 there is no difficulty in ascertaining this point, and it is 

 found that the plant in question has the former character. 

 Then comes an inquiry whether the sepals are 2, or inva- 

 riably 4, or 5 (occasionally varying to 4, C, or 7) ; they are 

 found to be 5 ; and here the analysis is reduced to the 

 decision between whether the ovules have a foramen at 

 the extremity opposite the hilum, or next the hilum ; the 

 former being ascertained to be the case, no doubt can 

 remain of the plant belonging to the natural order Cis- 

 tineae. This operation may appear rather tedious, but after 

 a little practice it is gone through quickly ; and when 

 the conclusion sought for is attained, the station of the 

 plant is not only ascertained, but also that all vegetables 

 having the same characters are herbaceous or shrubby 

 plants, with gay ephemeral flowers, usually growing in 

 rocky places, and possessing no known qualities except 

 that of secreting, in some instances, a sort of resinous 

 substance used as a stomachic and tonic. 



Examples need not be multi])lied, one instance shew- 

 ing what the method of analysis is, as well as more. 



