t V * v v * * 



102 CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS. 



general agreement, with the characters of the genus, possess 

 certain peculiarities in which they agree among themselves. 

 In describing plants, all that is said of the classes and orders 

 to which they belong, is merely to mention their names, it 

 being understood that the reader will comprehend by the word 

 Monandria, for instance, that the plant has one stamen, and 

 by Monogynia, that it has one pistil, &c. The genus Viola, 

 (or Violet,) for instance, is thus described. It falls under 

 class 5, Pentandria, and order 1, Monogynia. Its division 

 under this class and order is thus characterized : Flower poly- 

 petalous, inferior, seeds in a capsule. Then follows the gene- 

 ric description, or the terms which express the essential 

 characters of this genus, viz., sepals 5, petals 5, irregular, 

 connate behind, anthers adhering by a membrane at the end, or 

 distinct, capsules 3-valved, \-seeded. 



By this scientific arrangement, the botanist instantly knows 

 that all violets have five stamens, because it belongs to the 

 class Pentandria, which word, being derived from pente, five, 

 and aner, a stamen, signifies this number. And because it is 

 arranged under the order Monogynia, he knows also that it 

 has only one pistil. The division of the order under which 

 Viola is placed, shows that its flower is composed of many 

 petals, this being the meaning of the word polypctalous, and 

 by the term inferior, it is shown that the corolla is situated be- 

 low the germen. By the phrase " seeds in a capsule," it is 

 merely understood that the seeds of the Violet are contained 

 in that kind of pericarp which becomes dry, and opens by 

 valves. 



The pupil will observe that all this is indicated merely by 

 the situation or place which the genus Viola occupies in the 

 systematic arrangement, and hence, he will, it is hoped, be- 

 come, in some degree, sensible of the advantages of method 

 in the study of nature. 



The generic description is easily understood. Sepals, it 

 will be remembered, are the leaves of the calyx, and petals 

 the divisions of the corolla. The corolla is called irregular, 

 because the petals are unequal in size, or not symmetrical, 

 and one of them also ends in an appendage or horn behind ; 

 connate means joined, and refers to the connected appearance 



Does a genus include one or several species ? On what parts of the 

 plant ar*> the generic descriptions founded ? Why does the Violet belong 

 to the class Pentandria and order Monogynia ? Why is it called polype- 

 talous, and irregular ? What is meant by connate ? 



