CLASSIFICATION OF J " PLANTS. ; \ty\ J 



we conceive, no advantage in forcing the pupil to burthert hi* 

 memory with the names of the classes and orders in advance. 



The Orders of the first thirteen classes are founded on the 

 number of styles, or on the number of stigmas, when the 

 styles are wanting. The names of these orders are therefore 

 indicative of the number of pistils or stigmas which the flow- 

 ers contain, as the names of the classes are of the number of 

 stamens. The name of the first order in each of the thirteen 

 classes is Monogynia, which word is derived from the Greek 

 monos, one, and gyne, a pistil, and therefore means one pistil 

 The second order is also the same in most of the first thir 

 teen classes. Its name, Digynia, is derived from dis, twice, 

 and gyne, a pistil, and signifies two pistils. The third order is 

 Trigynia, three pistils ; the fourth, Tetragynia, four pistils, &c. 



Nothing in the form of science can be more simple or 

 more easily understood than the first half of the Linnaean 

 system, both as respects the classes and orders. Thus if a 

 flower has only one stamen, and one pistil, it belongs to CLASS 



1, Monandria, and ORDER 1, Monogynia. If it has one sta- 

 men and two pistils, it belongs to CLASS 1, Monandria, ORDER 



2, Digynia. If it has two stamens, it belongs to class 2, Di- 

 andria, its order being Monogynia, Digynia, or Trigynia, as 

 it has one, two or three pistils. 



Having ascertained the class and order of a plant, its ge- 

 nus is the next subject of inquiry. A genus comprehends 

 one or more species. When a genus has only one species, 

 the generic description is the description of that genus. But 

 when the genus includes many species, then the generic de- 

 scription is founded on such parts of the species as agree 

 with each other. All generic descriptions, or essential char- 

 acters, are founded on the flower or parts of fructification. 

 These descriptions are made as concise and expressive as 

 possible, so that in three or four lines a genus may not only 

 be completely described, so as to be identified, but also es- 

 sentially distinguished from all other genera. 



In botanical works, the large genera are usually separated 

 into families consisting of species, which, in addition to their 



What ia the foundation of the orders of the first thirteen classes ? 

 What is the name of the first order in each of the first thirteen classes ? 

 What are the names of the second and third orders ? If a plant has one 

 stamen and one pistil, to what class and order does it belong ? Having 

 ascertained the class and order of a plant, what is the next inquiry of the 

 botanist ? 



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