52 TALKS AFIELD. 



or families, as does also the class of Endo- 

 gens. The natural orders or families are 

 large groups of plants which have a general 

 similarity in flowers, fruit, leaves, and gen- 

 eral habit. Being entirely natural they are 

 not readily defined, and their limits are not 

 commonly clearly cut. For instance, the 

 Pea or Pulse family includes some six thou- 

 sand five hundred plants, which agree toler- 

 ably well in producing a certain kind of fruit 

 or pod, and most of them bear the peculiar 

 pea-like flowers, although the Acacias do not. 

 We may present a general view of the larger 

 divisions of flowering plants, mentioning 

 only the most important natural families, as 

 follows : — 



Class I. ExDOGENS. Including 



Graminece, or Grass family. 

 Cyperacece, or Sedge family. 

 LiliacecB, or Lily family. 

 Iridacece, or Blue Flag family. 

 Orchidacece, or Orchid family. 

 Palmacece, or Palm family. 



Class II. EXOGENS. 



Division I. Apetal^, Including 



Cupuliferce, or Oak and Beech family. 

 Urticaxiece, or Nettle and Mulberry 

 family. 



