INTRODUCTION. 11 



Since Gaertner anatomy of seeds, too much 

 stress has been laid upon this internal structure; 

 which is unavailable for practical purposes, and 

 only useful in botanical physiology. If every 

 one was compelled to dissect a seed or an egg, 

 before he could ascertain the Genus or family 

 of a Plant or Bird, the sciences of Botany and 

 Zoology would become unattainable. 



The axiom of Lamark that prolific Genera 

 ought to be divided, holds true for most of them, 

 as much for Carex, Euphorbia, Vaccinium, 

 Solarium 6^c. as for Sclrpus, Geranium, Ama- 

 ryllis, Lichen, and all the polymorphous G. 

 For instance, in Grasses and Lilies, the num- 

 ber of Stamens and Stigmas is generic ; so im- 

 portant as to divide Families: Jussieu has 

 based thereon many of his families, and the 

 sections of grasses. 



A great advantage results from multiplying 

 good Genera: since by it we lessen the con- 

 stant repetitions of many common characters. 

 But when Lamark said that small Genera might 

 be conveniently united, he overlooked that Na- 

 ture does not limit them in that way ; but ad- 

 mits of many distinct Genera of one or few spe- 

 cies, either as late deviated types, or remains 

 of nearly extinct types of generic forms. Be- 

 sides, most of the Linnean Genera of one Sp. 

 have been found to have several, when the 

 earth has been better explored ; this was the 

 case with Kuhnia, Parnassia, Hydrastis, 

 Fragaria, Dionea, Hippuris, Gaura, Samo- 

 lus, Oryza, &c. The type of a family may also 

 be single at first, but soon becomes multiple, 

 when we explore the Earth. 



Meantime since the Linnean period, his own 

 attempt at the enunciation of Natural Orders, 



