SYSTEMS OF CLASSIFICATION 



21 



of the present day, it will be unnecessary for us to allude to 

 them further. But the latter having been used in important 

 systematic works, it will be advisable for us to give a general 

 sketch of their leading characters. 



Endlicher's Natural System.— The system of Endlicher 

 is adopted in his ' Genera Plantarum,' published between the 

 years 1836-1840. The following is a sketch of this system. He 

 first divided plants into two great divisions, which he denomi- 

 nated Kegions, and named Thallophyta and Cormophj'ta. 

 These were again divided into Sections and Cohorts, as 

 follows : — 



Region 1. Thallophyta. Plants with no opposition of stem 

 and root ; with no vessels and no sexual organs ; 

 and with germinating spores lengthening in all 

 directions. 

 Section 1. ProtopJiyta. Plants developed without soil ; 

 drawing nourishment from the element in which 

 they grow; and having a vague fructification ; 

 as in Algae and Lichenes. 

 Section 2. Hysterojjhyta. Plants formed on languid or de- 

 cajdng organisms ; nourished from a matrix ; all 

 the organs developing at once, and perishing in 

 a definite manner ; as in Fungi. 



Region 2. Cormophyta. Plants with stem and root in opposite 

 directions ; spiral vessels and sexual organs dis- 

 tinct in the more perfect. 

 Section 3. Acrohrya, Stem growing at the point only, the 

 lower part being unchanged, and only used for 

 conveying fluids. 

 Cohort 1. Aiiophyta. Having no spiral vessels ; both sexes 

 perfect; spores free in spore-cases. Examples, 

 HepaticEe and Musci. 

 Cohort 2. ProtopJiyta. Having vascular bundles more or 

 less perfect ; male sex absent. Spores free in 

 one- or many-celled spore-cases. Examples, 

 Filices and Equisetaceae. 

 Cohort 3. Hysteroijhyta. Having perfect sexual organs ; 

 seeds without an embrj^o, polysporous ; para- 

 sitic. Example, Rhizantheae. 

 Section 4. Amphihrya. Stem growing at the circimiference. 

 Examples, Graminea, Liliaceae, Iridaceae, Orchi- 

 daceae, and Palmaceae, 



