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BOTANY. 



THE science of plants ; that part of natural 

 history that relates to vegetables. (Johnson^) 

 It consists of three parts : 



1 . The physiology of plants, or a knowledge 

 of the structure and functions of their different 

 parts. 



2. The systematic arrangement and denomi- 

 nation of their different kinds. 



3. Their economical and medical properties. 



Number of Plants. 



Baron Humboldt states, that we have nearly 50,000 

 species of cryptogamous and phanerogamous plants. 

 Of the last, the full number known in catalogues and 

 herbaria is 38,000. 



The Flmver. 



In the flower are to be observed : 



1. The calyx, or green membraneous part, form- 

 ing the support for the coloured floral leaves, 



2. The corolla, which is either monopetalous or 

 polypetalous. 



3. The stamens and the pistils. The essential 

 part of the stamen are the summits or anthers, co- 

 vered with a fine dust named the pollen, which be- 



