182 Mr. Roscoe o« Artificial and Natural 



though not with all the beneficial effect that might have beea 

 expected, or so as to define with accuracy the relative situa- 

 tion of each genus. The same mode of dividing the orders 

 into sections has also been resorted to by Jussieu ; but as he 

 had already employed the corolla and the situation of the 

 stamina in order to characterize his classes, he has been obliged 

 to have recourse in his subordinate divisions to other distinc- 

 tions. He therefore chiefly employs for this purpose the num- 

 ber of the stamina, and the style, with the addition of the re- 

 ceptacle, and particularly of the fruit. Thus it appears that 

 the two systems of Linnaeus and Jussieu are in this respect 

 nearly a transposition of each other ; and that whilst Linnaeus 

 begins his great divisions with the essential organs of fructifi- 

 cation, and proceeds to characterize his inferior divisions by 

 parts of less natural importance, Jussieu has formed his lead- 

 ing distinctions upon the corolla, and the situation of the 

 stamina ; and has employed the number of the stamina and 

 style to divide his orders into sections. Which of these me- 

 thods is to be preferred the reader will decide ; but as they are 

 in fact equally natural, or equally artificial, that which most 

 clearly defines the plant in question, which supplies a concise 

 and intelligible nomenclature, and most effectually assists the 

 student in his researches, is undoubtedly to be preferred : and 

 in these respects it will scnrcely be contended that the system 

 of Jussieu is superior to that of Linneeus. 



In forming their genera, both Linnaeus and Jussieu have 

 exerted all their talents. They were both of them equally 

 convinced that these combinations were founded in nature, and 

 ought equally to be adhered to under every mode of arrange- 

 ment. Here then there can be no comparison, except as to the 

 superior skill exhibited in the composition and description of 

 such genera. Which of them has excelled in this respect I 

 shall not take upon myself to decide; but if the preference is 

 to be given to Jussieu in any instance, it is perhaps in the full 

 and scientific manner in which his genera are defined. 



But whatever may be the merits of these rival systems in 

 other respects, there is one objection still remaining against 

 that of Jussieu, which strikingly reminds us of the prediction 

 of LinntEus, and renders it as a nomenclature entirely useless. 

 Unable to comprehend in any of his divisions all known ge- 

 nerajhe is compelled to annex to the close of several of hisorders 

 many plants, which he denominates genera qffinia ; besides 

 which, he is obliged to add at the endof his work a longappendix 

 of plants whose proper stations he has not been able to ascer- 

 tain ; not from the want of opportunity for investigation, for 

 many of the plants were obvious; but because they either fall 



under 



