THE NATURAL SYSTEM. 257 



the separation of the stamens and pistils, and are 

 named Moncecia, Dicecia, Tricecia. 



The twenty-fourth class is divided into the natural 

 orders ofFilices, or ferns ; Musci, or mosses ; Hepatica, 

 or liverworts; Algae, or flags ; and Fungi, or mushrooms. 



These brief notes will suffice to show the principles 

 of the system which Linnaeus propounded, and a 

 reference to Chapter III. will explain all the details 

 necessary to enable the student to dissect any flower, 

 and to arrange it according to the Linnsean system, 

 and probably this will answer the reader's purpose 

 who simply aims at classification. But Linna3us was 

 sensible that his system and all systems must be im- 

 perfect, which were simply based on certain regula- 

 tions of the organs of reproduction, and wished for a 

 more natural arrangement of species. This has now 

 been done, and 



THE NATUBAL SYSTEM or arrangement of the 

 vegetable world is the one on which all scientific 

 works are now based. In it the plants are classified 

 according to their essential organs, the growth of the 

 stem, and the number of their cotyledons or seed- 

 leaves. 



First, the vegetable world is divided into the grent 



17 



