DEPARTMENTS IN BOTANY. 



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thing which grows, having root, stem, leaf, or flower. This sci- 

 ence comprehends the knowledge of the methodical arrange- 

 ment of plants, of their structure, and whatever has relation to 

 the vegetable kingdom. The study of plants may be consi- 

 dered under two general heads. 



1st. The classification of plants by means of comparing their 

 different organs, is termed Systematic Botany. 



2d. The knowledge of the relations and uses of the various 

 parts of plants with respect to each other, is termed Physiologi- 

 cal Botany. This department includes Vegetable Anatomy. 



Systematic Botany is divided into the artificial and natural 

 methods. The artificial method- is founded upon different cir- 

 cumstances of two organs of the plant, called the pistils and 

 stamens. Linnaeus of Sweden was the first who discovered 

 that these organs are common to all plants, and essential to 

 their existence. Taking advantage of this fact, hefounded his 

 classes and orders upon their number, situation, and proportion. 

 By this artificial system, plants which are unlike in their gene- 

 ral appearance, are brought together, as in a dictionary, words 

 of different signification are placed together from the mere 

 circumstance of agreement in their initial letters. 



Fig. i. Parts of the flower. 



Before you can learn 

 the principles on 

 which the classifica- 

 tion of plants depends, 

 it is necessary that 

 you should become 

 acquainted with the 

 parts of a flower ; for 

 this purpose, you 

 have here the repre- 

 sentation of a Lily. 

 (See Jig. I.) You 

 know that at nrst this 

 flower is folded up in 

 a little green bud, 

 and that by degrees, 

 it expands and chan- 

 ges its colour ; being 

 in some kinds of lilies, 

 white, in others, yel- 

 This is the picture of a white lily. 



low, orange, &c. 



Definition of Botany Systematic Botany Physiological Botany Artificial 

 Method Names of the different parts of a dower. 





