992 



In addition to the three groups thus indicated, there is however a 

 fourth, superior to all the others, and whose limits " are in no degree 

 invaded." This group seems to consist of the single alliance Quer- 

 nales. Its truly diclinous flowers, its seeds composed of a large 

 amygdaloid embryo without albumen, as well as the peculiar venation 

 of the foliage, afford genuine marks of recognition and keep it distinct 

 from all the groups to which it is most nearly allied. In it, the per- 

 fection of exogenous structure is undeniably most perfectly dis- 

 played. The exalbuminous seeds with their very large embryo are 

 indicative of a power of independent self support, well bonie out by 

 the prolonged existence of the long-enduring oaks, which are its typi- 

 cal members. 



This, then, is the group which, from its superiority, its entirety, and 

 its peculiarities, is entitled to hold the central place in the System of 

 Nature as applied to the vegetable kingdom, in the same way as the 

 Primates do among animals. The Quernales being placed in the 

 centre, the hypogynous, perigynous and epigynous Diclines natural- 

 ly range themselves around them, and as naturally lead to the typical 

 hypogynous, perigynous and epigynous Exogens, and these in their 

 turn to the external groups by transitions which at some future time 

 we shall endeavour to illustrate ; but for the present we must content 

 ourselves with merely sketching a faint outline of what we conceive 

 to be a natural mode of grouping plants, and proceed at once to men- 

 tion the dichotomous divisions of the three last-named groups. 



Externally to the Primates among animals, which, as we have just 

 said, are represented by the Diclines among plants, we find three 

 groups of Mammalia comprising the remainder of the placental ani- 

 mals. Two of these are in themselves double or dichotomous, and 

 the third consists of two equivalent groups ; thus fulfilling another 

 condition, which requires that while the central group shall be entire 

 and incapable of equal dichotomous division, the other three groups 

 shall either he obviously double or dichotomous, or else made up oj 

 tivo corresponding equivalent groups. Now, the hypogynous, perigy- 

 nous and epigynous groups are each capable of being dichotomously 

 divided into two minor groups, analogous to the Cheiroptera and 

 Glires, the Bruta and Belluae, and the Cete and Ferse of the placental 

 animals. Thus, one of the minor groups of hypogyns would in- 

 clude such plants as make up the Malval and Sapindal alliances, as 

 examples of the other may be mentioned the Berberal alliance ; in 

 perigyns, one division would include the Gentianals, Solanals, Rosals, 

 &c., the other the Rhamnals, Daphnals, &c. ; and in the epigyns, one 



