Arrangements of Plants. 99 



nol, from the calyx; that of Linnaeus, chiefly from the num- 

 ber, proportion, and situation of the stamina; and that of 

 Jussieu, from the mode of germination, and situation of the 

 stamina; but principally, like that of Tournefort, from the 

 number and disposition of the petals. It is true, that some of 

 these methods may be greatly preferable to others ; but it is 

 equally true, that there is scarcely one of them that does not 

 possess some advantages which the others do not afford, and 

 which have induced their respective authors to give them the 

 preference. Some of them may even approach nearer to a 

 natural system than the rest; or, in other words, may occa- 

 sion less separation among plants which have a real affinity : 

 others may pay less regard to this object, and may in some 

 degree sacrifice it for the purpose of giving a more correct, 

 extensive, and intelligible nomenclature ; but the distinctions 

 on which they are founded are equally natural ; although it 

 may not be possible for any method that is confessedly founded 

 upon the sensible phaenomena of the vegetable kingdom, what- 

 ever its pretensions may be, to unite together the families of 

 plants in the strict natural orders and relative situations, or 

 occasionally to avoid separating those which the general con- 

 victions of our senses assure us ought to be united. 



If however it be still asserted that the system of Jussieu is 

 to be preferred, as exhibiting a more exact conformity to the 

 affinities of nature than that of Linnaeus, may we be allowed 

 to ask upon what this superiority is founded, and in what par- 

 ticular part of the system it consists? Are the affinities of 

 plants more likely primarily to result from the petals, or from 

 the stamina? from the part which shelters the immediate or- 

 gans of reproduction, or from those organs themselves, con- 

 nected as they are with the very nature and fructification of 

 the plant? Supposing a doubt to arise whether a plant ought 

 to be arranged with such as agreed with it in the corolla, or 

 in the stamina, how would a skilful naturalist be inclined 

 to decide ? or which would he consider as the most powerful 

 affinity? In whatever manner the orders of the two Jussieus 

 may have been formed, they exhibit, at least, as many incon- 

 gruities to the general observer, as the classes and orders of 

 Linnaeus. Wiiat would such an observer, unacquainted with 

 the secret chain employed by these authors, say to the union 

 in the same class of the Palmct with the Junci F the Mitscc with 

 the Hijdrocharidcs ? the Protca; with the yltripliccs ? the Jas- 

 minccc with the Scrophularia: ? the lihododcndra with the Cam- 

 pa7iulacece ? or, in short, to the many tribes apparently wholly 

 discordant from each other, in conformation, in habit, in qua- 

 lities, which occur in almost every class? Can the system ol 



() 2 Linnncus 



