SYSTEM OF LINISMEUS. 167 



ders.* This system not only includes within it all known 

 plants, but is founded on such principles as must comprehend 

 within it whatever plants may yet be discovered. Its author 

 believed that no plant was destitute of stamens and pistils : but 

 at the same time, that there were species in which these or- 

 gans were so small, so obscure, or of such a singular formation 

 as to render it difficult, and sometimes impossible to be certain 

 of their existence, except by the principle of analogy. There- 

 fore, he made the two grand divisions of plants, Phenogamous, 

 such as have stamens and pistils visible, and Cryptogamous, sta- 

 mens and pistils invisible.^ 



The following comparison has been very properly made by 

 Botanists, as an illustration of the divisions in the system of 

 Linnaeus. 



Classes are compared to States. 

 Orders, to Towns. 



Genera, to Families. 



Species, to Individuals. 



You must not forget, while considering this system, that 

 plants themselves are the only real substances ; species, genus, 

 order and class, are mere abstract terms, denoting certain dis- 

 tinctions which would equally have existed, although we had 

 never observed them, or given them names. 



An Individual is an organized being, complete in its parts, 

 distinct and separate from all other beings. An oak, a rose, 

 and a moss, are each of them individuals of the vegetable king- 

 dom. 



A Species includes such individuals as agree in certain circum- 

 stances of the roots, stems, leaves and inflorescence. We have 

 no reason to suppose that any new species, either of animals or 

 vegetables, have been produced since the creation. We some- 

 times see varieties in plants made by cultivation ; the stamens 

 and pistils, from excess of nourishment, expanding into petals. 

 Varieties are also occasioned by strewing the pollen from one 

 species, upon the stigma of another ; but these varieties do not 

 produce perfect seed, and therefore cannot reproduce them- 

 selves by their seed. The colour, taste and size, are not con- 

 sidered as marks of specific difference. 



A Genus comprehends one or more species, grouped togeth- 

 er on account of some resemblance in situation, proportion, 

 and connexion of the organs which constitute the flower. Any 



* See part I, page 29. 



t Mirbel believes there are some plants absolutely destitute of stamens and 

 pistils ; these he calls agamous. 



System of Linnaeus provides for the classification of such plants as are yet 

 to be discovered Illustrations of its divisions Plants the only real substances 

 Individual Species Genus. 



