SYSTE3IS OF CLASSIFICATION. 395 



The more important symbols are as follows : — 



O) O) C^> or A, signifies an anmial plant. 



O O) (2J, or B, means a biennial plant. 



2/. , A , or P, signifies a perennial. 



>2 or Sh. means a shrnb. 



T signifies a tree. 



( twining to the right ; ) twining to the left. 



J a staminate fiower. 



$ a pistillate flower. 



5 a hermaphrodite flower. 



5 - $ a moncBcions plant. 



5 : ^ a dicecious species. 



§ 5 ^ a polygamous species. 



O = signifies that the cotyledons are accmnbent, and the 

 radicle lateral. 



O II Cotyledons incumbent, radicle dorsal. 



O P Cotyledons conduplicate, radicle dorsal. 



O II II Cotyledons twice folded, radicle dorsal. 



O II II II Cotyledons three times folded, radicle dorsal. 



? The note of interrogation is used to indicate doubt or un- 

 certainty as to the genus, species, locality, &c. 



! The note of exclamation indicates certainty in the above 

 particulars. 



* The asterisk indicates that a good description is to be found 

 at the reference to which it is appended. 



CHAPTER 2. 



SYSTEMS OF CLASSIFICATION. 



We hare already stated that Systematic Botany has for its 

 object the naming, describing, and arranging of plants in such 

 a manner, that we may readily ascertain their names, and at the 

 same time get an insight into their relations and general proper- 

 ties. Every system that has been devised for the arrangement of 

 plants does not comprise all the above points ; for, while some 

 systems are of value simply for affording us a ready means of 

 ascertaining their names, others not only do this, but at the same 

 time give us a knowledge of their affinities and properties. Hence 

 we divide the different systems of Classification under two heads ; 

 namely. Artificial and Natural, — the former only necessarily 

 enabling us to ascertain readily the name of a particular plant, 



