170 CLASSIFICATION. 



f Stamens epigynous, 5 



apetalous. " perigynous, 6 



( hypogynous, 7 



Corolla hypogynous, 8 



" perigynous, 9 



monopetalous. } f ^^f. 1 ^ IQ 



I combined, 



l anthers , , 

 L distinct, 



i Stamens epigynous, 12 



polypetalous. " hypogynous, 13 



( " perigynous, 14 



diclinious, 15 



These classes are divided into 100 orders ;* but they are 

 obscure and indefinite in many particulars. 



The dicotyledons include the Cryptogamous plants of Lin- 

 naeus. The monocotyledons consist of three classes ; grasses, 

 palms, and liliaceous plants. The dicotyledons^ form the 11 re- 

 maining classes. There are some genera which appear so 

 ambiguous in their character, as to render it doubtful where 

 they should be placed. 



In the three methods of classification which we have now 

 examined, the most important characters of the plant have been 

 presented, under circumstances calculated to give you more 

 clear-ideas of them, than could have been obtained from a con- 

 sideration of any one method, alone. 



Tournefort makes you acquainted with the different appear- 

 ances of the corolla. 



Linnaeus, of the stamens and pistils. 

 Jussieu, of the cotyledons and insertions of the stamens. 

 The method of Tournefort cannot be relied on, because the 

 forms of corollas vary into each other; that of Jussieu, con- 

 sidered as a study in itself, is much too abstract ; the number of 

 cotyledons, generally speaking, is an excellent character, but 

 you cannot in the beginning appreciate its value ; and as to in- 

 sertion, botanists themselves are sometimes embarrassed to de- 

 cide respecting it. This method, although much admired, has 

 been little used ; on the contrary, the method of Linnaeus has 

 been for half a century the foundation of all teaching. The 



* See Part I, page 39. 



t The dicotyledonous division includes also the Polycotyledons, or a few 

 plants with more than two cotyledons. 



How many of Jussieu's orders ? Acotyledons Monocotyledons Dicotyle- 

 dons The three methods of classification considered, present the most impor- 

 tant characters of the plants under different points of view Comparison of 

 these methods. 



