434 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



CHAPTER 3. 



ARRANGEMENT, CHARACTERS, DISTRIBUTION, PROPERTIES, AND 

 USES OF THE NATURAL ORDERS. 



Having now given a general sketch of the various Natural 

 Systems ; more especially of that one which we propose to 

 follow in this volume, and described the characters of its 

 essential divisions, we proceed to the description of the various 

 natural orders which we arrange under those divisions. Our 

 attention will be chiefly directed to the more important orders, 

 and especial importance will be given to their diagnostic cha- 

 racters, — or those which are absolutely necessary for their 

 distinction. In this portion of our subject we have made free 

 use of "Lindley's Vegetable Kingdom," to which valuable 

 Avork we refer those who require fuller details than our object 

 and space will admit of. 



In our notice of the more important natural systems, we have 

 seen that, some authors, as Jussieu, Endlicher, and Lindley, 

 commence with the simplest forms of plants, and end with 

 the most complicated ; while others, as Kay and De Candolle, 

 take an opposite course, and proceed from the most complicated 

 to the simplest forms. We have adopted the latter plan here, 

 because the more highly developed plants arc much better known 

 than the lower, and will be moreover of more general interest to 

 the majority of our readers. 



Sub-kingdom I. 



PHANEROGAMIA, COTYLEDONES, OR FLOW- 

 ERING PLANTS. 



Class L DICOTYLEDONES. 



Division I. Angiospermia. 



Sub-class I. Thalanvflora;. 



Natural Order 1 . Ranuxculace^e, the Crowfoot or But- 

 tercup Order {figs. 840—845). — General Character, — 

 Herbs, or rarely climbing shrubs, witli an acrid watery juice. 

 Leaves alternate or oi)posite, generally much divided {fig. 348), 

 sometimes entire, with usually dilated and sheathing ])etioles. 

 Stipules sometimes ])re?ent, but always united to the base of 

 the petiole. Caly.v of 3—6 {fig. 840), usually 5, distinct sepals, 



