CONCLUSION. 95 



distinguish Genera when assuming the shapes 

 of Perianthe or common calix, phoranthe or 

 common receptacle, invokicres of Omhellifera, 

 Ghimes of Grasses, &.c. they never ought to be 

 employed alone to fix families and Orders. 



They ought to know that when there are no 

 other essential Organs than Pistils and Stamens 

 as in Grasses, except the mere bracts called 

 Glumes, these must give way to the first ; and 

 their number becomes then of paramount im- 

 portance, in defect of additional organs. There- 

 fore Jussieu was very right to divide the grasses 

 in first instance by the numbers of Styles and 

 Stamens : while the modern Botanists who unite 

 in the same Genus Grasses, with 1, 2, 3 or 

 many stamens, are utterly in the wrong. They 

 even sin against Linneus who divided Cinna^ 

 Anthoxanthum, Oryza, ^c. To unite in the 

 single Genus, Carex, plants with 2 or 3 stigmas 

 or styles is still worse ; and not to perceive that 

 such a Genus of 300 Species is a fine Nat. fami- 

 ly with many Genera distinguished by this and 

 the seminal covering, proves that the absurd 

 Hnnean principles evinced in the Genus Lichen 

 now a Class ! prevail as yet among us. Who- 

 ever preserves Carex entire ought to keep Li- 

 chen and A;^ar'icns entire, and make a single 

 Genus of Ombellifera. 



I conclude by asserting that GENERA ARE 

 NATURAL, and that every actual Genus that 

 is unnatural, arbitrary or polymorphous, IS 

 NOT A GENUS, but an incorrect and artificial 

 aggregation of aliens ! Wherefore all Genera 

 must be reformed till we reach these natural 

 clusters of species quite alike in floral organs. 



When in the course of time this truth shall 

 be acknowledged, and it shall be wondered how 



