519 



Linnaeus has distinguished these into four sections. In 

 the first are Cactus, Mesembryanthemum, Tamarix, and 

 others. Nymphaa, placed here in the Linnaean manu- 

 script, as well as in Giseke's publication, was afterwards 

 removed by Linnaeus to his Rhoeadecc. Sarracenia he 

 conceived to be akin thereto. In his second section are 

 Sedum and its numerous allies; in the third Portulaca, 

 Claytonia, &c. ; and in the fourth a very different as- 

 semblage, as we should think, composed of Saxifraga, 

 Adoxa, &c. and even Hydrangea. Linnaeus however 

 thought all these sections nearly related. "They are," 

 says he, " succulent, insipid, inert, and inodorous, there- 

 fore mere pot-herbs, widely different from the other fleshy 

 plants, Stapelia, &c. whose fructification is so unlike 

 them, and whose qualities are so poisonous. We find in 

 this order, that opposite or alternate leaves is an indiffe- 

 rent circumstance. These plants have no true spines, 

 no tendrils, nor climbing stems, neither stipulas nor brac- 

 teas." (Giseke well remarks, that Sedum acre is one ex- 

 ception to their alleged insipidity, though we can scarcely 

 agree with him that Sempervivum tectorum is another.) 



Order 14. Gruinales. The best-known genera here 

 are Linum, Drosera, Oxalis, Geranium and its relations. 

 Linnaeus admits also Quassia, Zygophylhim, Averrhoa, 

 &c, and his editor inserts, with well-founded doubt, 

 Sparmawiia. Their roots and habits are various. Calyx 

 usually of five leaves, and corolla of five petals. Sta- 

 mens various in number and connexion. Pistils mostly 

 five or ten. Fruits various. Linnaeus professed himself 

 unable to define the character of this order. Many of the 

 plants have acid leaves. 



Order 15. Inundate. " So called because they 

 grow in water, many of them under its surface, except 

 their blossoms." Potamogeton is the genus most gene- 

 rally known, to which Linnaeus suspected Orontium to be 

 related, but not correctly. Myriophyllum, Proserpinaca, 

 Hippuris, &c. are placed here, and even Elatine, notwith- 

 standing its numerous seeds. Char a and Najas form a 



