SYSTEM OF LINN^US. 169 



families show a similarity in form and quality, and are evident, 

 ly distinct from all others. If the whole vegetable kingdom 

 could thus be distributed into natural tribes, we should need 

 no other system than that of nature. But as we proceed on 

 this plan we soon find difficulties ; for after selecting a few 

 families which nature seems to have formed with striking 

 marks of resemblance, we find others more obscure, and we 

 at length see a vast number of plants which cannot be referred 

 to any natural families. 



We shall consider two natural methods of Classification ; 

 viz. those of Linnaeus, and Jussieu ; the arrangement of the 

 latter, is highly valuable in the study of Medicinal Botany. 



The characters employed in this method are, 



1. The structure of the Seed. 



2. Insertion of the Stamens. 



3. Absence, presence, and form of the Corolla. 



4. Union or separation of Stamens and Pistils. 



5. Union or separation of the Anthers. 



1. The Seed, considered with respect to Cotyledons.* A 

 plant without cotyledons is called, A'cotyledonous, with one, 

 Mono'cotyledonous, and with two, Dicotyledonous. 



2. The Stamens are inserted above the germ, under the 

 germ, or around the germ: the 1st is Epi'gynous, the 2d 

 Hypo'gynous, the 3d Peri'gynous. 



3. A'petalous, having no corolla, Mono'petalous, all of one 

 piece, or Poly'petalous, many petals. 



4. Mono'clinious, Stamens and Pistils on the same corolla, 

 Di'clinious, Stamens and Pistils on different corollas. 



5. Anthers distinct, or anthers joined. 



Synopsis of Jussieu* s method. 



ACOTYLEDONS, CLASS 1 



( Stamens liypogynous, 2 



MONOCOTYLEDONS, < " perigynous, 3 



I " epigynous, 4 



* The Cotyledons are the thick parts of the seed ; an apple seed, an orange 

 seed, or a bean, may be easily split into two parts ; these are the cotyledons ; 

 nee and wheat cannot be thus split, they have but one cotyledon. 



Many plants cannot be referred to any natural families Two natural meth- 

 ods to be considered What are the characters employed in Jussieu's method? 

 How is the structure of the seed considered ? How the insertion of the 

 stamens ? How the corolla ? How the anthers ? Give a synopsis of Jussieu's 

 method. 



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