NATURAL CLASSES. 69 



ida^ and others with sino^le pistils are removed, 

 as I have ah'eady \cUa and Botrophis^ or this 

 anomaly introduced as exceptions. 



As early as 1820 I proposed to form a Nat- 

 ural Class, Nantiandria (in Bory's annals) from 

 all the scattered Orders that have, Stamens 

 opposed to petals, or to sepals of a corolla, or 

 alternate to a callx. This I conceive will be 

 a very natural and definite Class ; this reversed 

 insertion and position being very essential and 

 constant, as the lihamnides with a different in- 

 terposition form quite separate families. Most 

 of the Gentianides belong to it. 



The plants with a peripetalic corolla (mono- 

 pet) surrounding the stamens, but not bearing 

 them, as Erica, \acclnium. Campanula ap- 

 pear to demand also the formation of a peculiar 

 class, this mutual freedom of essential Organs, 

 being quite striking. Thus 4 Classes might be 

 taken from my Eltrogines chiefly. 



In the next, Heterolia or all the Orders 

 with irregular corolla or stamens, including the 

 Labiate and Echides, might form a very natural 

 Class. The same is true of the Synanthes or 

 Compound flowers. Thus we have 6 additional 

 Classes of Exogenes. 



Among the Endogenes, the Gynandrous or 

 Orchidea and akin Orders, are a very natural 

 group, deserving now to become a Class by the 

 vast number of new Genera lately ascertained. 

 The Grasses and Ferns are both so distinct 

 and peculiar as todeserve also that name. This 

 gives 3 other natural Classes ; another or tenth 

 in the whole may be found in the Lichens or 

 terrestrial Algas: whereby a linnean Genus 

 became gradualy a family, next an Order, and 

 now may be a Class ! The labors of Acharius 



