FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS 47 



people are very nearly related, such as brothers and 

 sisters. Others, such as first-cousins, are not so near; 

 and others, such as second and third cousins, are more 

 distantly of kin. Many more, again, are united only 

 by the tie of belonging to the same race, the same 

 country; while countless numbers can only be called 

 connected because they all belong to the great Family 

 of Mankind in general. 



We have already heard something of the first main 

 division of all plants into two very large classes — 

 Flowerless Plants and Flowering Plants. Our business 

 now is with Flowering Plants only; and chiefly with 

 those which begin life with either one or two little 

 Seed-leaves. These are separated into lesser classes, 

 under various titles, as follows — 



All Flowering Plants are divided into Natural 

 Orders, sometimes called Families. 



Each of these Natural Orders or Families is divided 

 into groups called Genera. One such group is called a 

 Genus. 



Each Genus is divided, again, into different Species. 

 This word is the same in the singular and in the plural. 

 We speak of a species and of many species. 



Lastly, each species may be divided into many 

 Varieties ; more or less alike, yet with differences. 



The word " Tribes " is sometimes used as a title for 

 a lesser division or class belonging to one of the Natural 

 Orders. And, as stated above, the relationship here 

 spoken of is believed to be a real thing; to come from 

 actual descent. Plants which we look upon as near of 

 kin are, in all probability, descended from one common 

 ancestor. 



