LXII OUTLINES OF BOTANY. 
e first discovered, or the most marked e. g. Ranunculaceae from 
ulus), wo 
plants ‘i a plural adjective, or — adding the wor mily or 07 t 
name of th cal genus taken adjectively, as Ranunculaceous 
Plants, or the Ranunculus Famil) y or Order). This is, howe 
purpose of study and comparis on. speak of a species, to refer o it 
and i spacer it, all that is sane is to give the generic and let 
a 
in the same manner collected into Clase 8; pi wi ere Orders contain ¢ 
large number of genera, or genera a large number of species, they require 
further classificatio The genera of an Order are then collected into 
inor groups called Tribes, the species of into Sections, and i 
a few s this rmediate Penida is carried still further. The 
names of these several groups most genera — re are as follows 
inning with the most inet or hi 
Clas Genera. 
Subelase or Allia Subgenera. 
ral ei ders or Paces: Sections. 
Subo ra tat aa 
ibes. 
Subtribes. Vv ar ietios. 
Divisions. 
Subdivisions. 
he — By by which a species is distinguished from all 
once species e genus are collectively called the specific character 
of the plant; a ne which its genus is distinguished fr her genera 
er, or its Order from ot , are paca ealled the 
generic or ordinal characters, as the case ma : e habit of a plant 
of a speci 8, etc., consists of such general dhinwactees as strike 
e , Such as size, colour, ramification, arrangement of 
the leaves, inflorescence, etc., and are chiefly derived from the organs of 
etation 
184. Classes, Orders, Genera, and their several gp aaa are called 
natural when, in forming them, all resemblances and differe are taken 
account, valuing them according to their web or he ti ed impor- 
tance; artificial, when resemblances and diffe es in g one or very 
few particulars o 
85. 7 number of species include us, or the number of 
genera in an Order, is very iable. Sometimes two or three or eve 
species may be so different from oth as to constitute the 
entire genus; in others, several hundred Species may resemble each other 
so much as all incl one genus; and there he same 
iscrepancy in the number of genera to a Family. 
unfortuna 
; M2 
existence in nature, the que tion ma be usceptible of ar: a 
and sometimes of absolute pro rape 
