Linnasus has divided the vegetable kingdom into twenty- 

 four classes, which are subdivided into orders. Distinc- 

 tions in each order produce a further division into genera ; 

 and genera are again subdivided into species. 



A Class has been aptly described as bearing some re- 

 semblance to an army, an order to a regiment, a genus to a 

 company, and a species to a soldier. 



In distinguishing a plant, two words are employed ; the 

 first, which is called the generic name, is common to all 

 the species of the same genus ; and the second, termed the 

 specific name, is confined to a single species ; as Rosa mus- 

 cosa, the botanical name for the Moss Rose. Here, rosa 

 is the generic name applicable to the whole genus or fami- 

 ly of roses ; and muscosa is the specific name, used to dis- 

 tinguish the particular kind or species of rose. 



The families, or genera, are characterised by the ana- 

 logy of all the parts of the flower, or fructification. The 

 species axe distinguished by the foliage of the plant ; and 

 the varieties, by an accidental circumstance of colour, 

 taste, or odour. The seeds of these do not always pro- 

 duce plants similar to the parent : this is more certainly 

 accomplished by grafts or layers. 



CLASS. 



The names of the classes are formed of Greek words, 

 expressive of the characters of each class. Those of the 

 first ten may be easily remembered, by considering the 

 word andria, as meaning stamens, and annexing, it to the 

 Greek numerals. 



The first ten classes are distinguished simply by the 

 number of the stamens ; except the fourth and sixth 

 these have stamens of the same length. The fourth has 

 four of the same length the sixth, six of the same length. 



THE NAMES OF THE CLASSES. 



1. Monandria 1 stamen as in the Ginger, Cardamo- 



mom, Arrow root, Turmeric, &.c. 

 The plants of this class are very few, 

 and chiefly found in tropical coun- 

 tries. There are none of this class 

 introduced into this Dictionary. 



2. Diandria 2 stamens as in the Lilac, Jasmine, 



Sage, Fringe tree, &c. 



3. Triandria 3 stamens, as in the Spring Crocus, Iris, 



&c. In this class is found all the 

 different species of Grasses that cover 

 our fields, as also Wheat, Rye, Oats, 

 Sugar-cane, &c. 



4. Tetrandria 4 stamens, as in the Dogwood, Holly, 



&c. 



5. Pentandria 5 stamens, as in the Violet, Parsley, 



Flax, Hemlock. This is the most 

 numerous of all the classes, and 

 comprehends more than one-tenth of 

 the plants at present known. In 

 this you find the Potato, Deadly 

 Night Shade, Tomato, Capsicum, 

 Tobacco plant, Coffee-tree, Currant, 

 Gooseberry, &c. 



6. Hexandria 6 stamens, as in the Rice, Sorrel, As- 



paragus, Lily, &c. 



7. Heptandria 7 stamens, as in the Horse-ehesnut, 



tm 



There are fewer plants in this 

 class than in any other. 



8. Octandria 8 stamens, as in the Whortleberry, 



Evening Primrose, &c. 



9. Enneandria 9 stamens, as in the Laurel, Rhubarb, 



&c. 



10. Decandria 10 stamens, as in the Locust tree, Rue, 



Pink, &c. 



11. Dodecandria has from twelve to nineteen stamens 



in each flower, as in the Mignonette, 

 House leek, &c. 



12. Icosandria 20, or more stamens, attached to the 



calyx, or sometimes, in part, to the 

 corolla. In this class the calyx is 

 always of one piece, divided at its 

 border, and usually permanent. 

 The character of this class indicates 

 the pulpy fruits, which belong to it, 

 to be wholesome. " Sir J. E. Smith 

 has observed, that no traveller, in 

 the most unknown wilderness, need 

 to be afraid to eat the fruit of any 

 plant whose stamens grow upon the 

 calyx." 



The apple, cherry, pear, plum, 



