Arrangements of Plants. 101 



by Jussleu Is the separating from the great mass of vegetables, 

 two portions ; one of which, the acotyledones, comprehends 

 the cryptogamous plants of Linnaeus, and forms the first class 

 of Jussieu : the other, the monocotyledones, includes the gra- 

 mineous and liliaceous plants, and forms the second, third, 

 and fourth of his classes. These distinctions may be admitted 

 to be well founded * ; but what are the advantages they af- 

 ford over those of Linnaeus? who has also referred the Cryp- 

 togamous Plants to a distinct class by a peculiarity equally 

 natural, the inconspicuity of their flowers, and with a few ex- 

 ceptions, not perhaps difficult to have been avoided, has ar- 

 ranged the gramineous and liliaceous plants in orders as na- 

 tural as those of Jussieu. 



In this respect, then, the two systems are nearly upon an 

 equality ; and to say the truth, it was almost impossible for 

 any naturalist, upon a subject where the grounds of distinction 

 were so numerous and so manifest, to adopt a different con- 

 clusion. But if nothing be gained in this instance by Jussieu, 

 can we also say that nothing is lost? Is it no disadvantage, 

 on discovering an unknown plant, to be under the necessity, 

 before we proceed to its further investigation, of ascertaining 

 in what manner it commenced its giowth, and whether it rose 

 from the seed with one or with two cotyledons, or without any 

 cotyledon whatever? To whom are we to apply for this in- 

 formation ? Or are we to be turned round to ascertain the 

 primary distinction by the sensible appearance, and instead of 

 saying that the plant rose from one cotyledon and is there- 

 fore a grass, that it is a grass and therefore rose from one co- 

 tyledon ? At all events, it imposes a difficulty on the student 



And his Dicotyledories into 



iminutatae. Leguinina &c. 



l)licatae. Gossypium. 



diiplicatPC. Tetradyiianiia &c. 



obvolutse. Ilelxine. 



spirales. Salsola &c. 



rediicta;. UmbclIatcC. 



And in his Polycotyledones he enunierates Pinus, Ciipressus, and Linuni, 

 p. J03. 



* Yet it must be observed that in the niinicrous tribe of the Orchldecr, 

 wiiich Jussieu has arranged among liis Monocotyledonous Plants, otliers 

 have not been able to tliscover the slightest trace oCa cot\ledon. For in- 

 htance, " Oiiciiis mokio. Acotyledoneus, ne vol minimo placentae rudimento 

 unqiiam cxserto." — " Limouoiium vekixundum. Kmbryo minntus, acoty- 

 ledoneus." V. Sulhburi) in Linn. Trans, vol.vii. pp. .'51, '.V2. — Again, some 

 plants have been discovered to have more than two cotyleilons, as in I'inus, 

 and Uomhcyu ; the cotyledons of the latter of wiiich" arc distinctly four." 

 Smith's LUroil. to Hot. pj). !)8. 2Kf). Anil even the Mosses are said to have 

 nufucrous seed-lobes, " so that these plants are very improperly placed by 

 authors among sucii as liave no cotyledons." ll>. p. lUO. 



witliout 



