FIRST GRAND DIVISION, 
PHAZNOGAMIA, OR FLOWERING PLANTS. 
Plants consisting of a regular axis of growth with -leafy appendages ; 
compcsed of a cellular, 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. Growrn by annual, concentric, exter- 
nal zones or layers. Leaves mostly with reticulated veins, and fall- 
ing off by an articulation. Sepats and perats in 5s and 4s much 
oftener than in 3s. Hmsryo with 2 opposite, or several whorled 
cotyledons. 
CLASS I. ANGIOSPERMS. 
Ovutes produced within an ovary and fertilized by the pollen 
through the medium of the pistm, becoming sEEps enclosed in a 
PERICARP. Emsryo with two opposite cotyledons. 
SUBCLASS I. POLYPETALZA. 
Floral envelops usually consisting of both calyx and corolla, the 
latter composed of distinct petals. 
Orpver I. RANUNCULACE®—Crowroors. ~ 
Herbs, with an acrid, colorless juice. - 
Leaves mostly alternate and much divided, with half-clasping petioles. 
Calyz.—Sepals mostly 5, sometimes 3, 4 or 6, mostly deciduous, andimbricated in xstivation. 
Corolla.—Petals 3—15, hypogynous, sometimes irregular or 0. 
Stamens 00, distinct, hypogynous. Anthers, adnate or innate. 
Ovaries 00, rarely solitary or few, distinct, seated on the torus. 
Fruit either dry achenia, or baccate, or follicular. 
Embryo minute, at the base of horny or fleshy albumen. 
Genera 41, species about 1000 (Lindley), mostly natives of cold, damp climates. Europe is supposed 
to contain one-fifth of the species, North America one-seventh, India one-twenty-fifth, South Ameri 
one-seventeenth, Africa very few, and New Holland but 18. - 
Properties.—Almost all the genera contain an acrid juice highly prejudicial to animal life, but easily 
decomposed and deprived of its activity by a heat of 212 deg. They also lose their poisonous qualities in 
drying. This order is rich in ornamental cultivated plants. 
