414 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



— Convolvulacese, Solanege, and Labiatse ; of Monochlamydem — 

 Polygonese, Urticese, and Amentacese : of PhanerogamcB — Orchi- 

 dese, Iridese, and Gramineae ; of Oryptoffama—Yihces, Equise- 

 tacese, and Lycopodinese : of Foliosce — Musci and Hepaticse ; 

 and of Aphi/Uce — Lichenes, Fungi, and Algse. 



In this system it will be observed that De Candolle adopted the 

 primary divisions of Jussieu, but he reversed the order of their 

 arrangement ; for, instead of commencing with Acotyledons, 

 and passing through Monocotyledons to Dicotyledons, he began 

 with the latter, and proceeded by the Monocotyledons to Acoty- 

 ledons. The reason for taking this course is thus explained: — 



" I place Dicotyledons first because they have the greatest 

 number of distinct and separate organs. Then, as I find 

 families where some of these organs become consolidated, and 

 consequently seem to disappear, I refer them to a lower rank. 

 This principle gives me the series as exhibited in the tabular 

 arrangement above. I have adopted this series partly because 

 I think it is that which is least removed from a natural sequence, 

 and partly because it is convenient and easy for study. But let 

 no one imagine that I attach the least importance to it. The 

 true science of general Natural History consists in the study of 

 the symmetry peculiar to each family, and of the relation which 

 these families bear to each other. All the rest is merely a 

 scaffolding, better or worse suited to accomplish that end." 



Since the appearance of De Candolle's system numerous other 

 arrangements have been proposed by botanists, as those of 

 Agardh, Perleb, Dumortier, Bartling, Lindley, Schultz, Endlicher, 

 and many others. As all these systems, with the exception of 

 those of Lindley and Endlicher, were never much used, and are not 

 adopted in great systematic works of the present day, it will be 

 unnecessary for us to allude to them an}' further. A full account 

 of them all may be found in Lindley's valuable work on the Vege- 

 table Kingdom. The systems of Endlicher and Lindley, however, 

 having been used in important systematic works, it will be ad- 

 visable for us to give a general sketch of their leading characters. 



A new Genera Plantarum, by Bentham and Hooker, is now 

 in course of publication, but at present it is too incomplete to 

 be especially referred to in a students' manual ; but from the 

 high reputation and great practical experience of the authors, 

 and judging from the volume that has already appeared, im- 

 portant changes may be expected in the arrangement, &c. of 

 genera. It is hoped, therefore, that the work will be completed 

 with as little delay as possible. 



Endlicher's Natural System. — The system of Endlicher 

 is adopted in his Ge7ieraPIantarum,^Vi\A\^\vQ(}i between the years 

 1836 — 1840. The following is a sketch of tliis system. He 

 divides plants into two great divisions, which be has denominated 

 Regions, and named Thallophyta and Cormophyta. These were 

 again divided into Sections and Cohorts, as follows : — 



