CLASSES AND ORDERS. 



THK explanations of these moot necessarily be very brief; my 

 aim being rather to stimulate curiosity respecting the subject of 

 Botany, than to impart instruction in the science. A few general 

 facts, and a few of the first terms, are all that can be given. 



Flowers in the Linnaean system are divided into twenty-four 

 Classes. These Classes are divided into Orders ; Orders into 

 Genera; Genera into Species; Species are frequently changed 

 into Varieties. 



The first ten classes are distinguished by the number of their 

 itaineiis; thus, 



1. Monandria, 1 stamen, Flowering Reed is the only one 



of this class given. 



2. Diandria, 2 stamens, Lilac, Sage, Jasmine, etc 



3. Triandria, 3 stamens, Crocus, Iris, Oat, etc. 



4. Tetrandria, 4 stamens, Witch-Hazel, Holly, etc. 



6. Pentandria, 5 stamens, Violet, flax, Woodbine, etc. 



6. Hexandria, 6 stamens, Lily, Sorrel, Aloe, etc. 



7. Heptandria, 7 stamens, Horse-chestnut, etc. None of 



this class given. 



8. Octandria, 8 stamens, Nasturtion, etc. 



9. Eneandria, 9 stamens, Laurel, etc. 



10. Decandria, 10 stamens, Rue, Pink, Hydrangea. 



11. Dodecandria, 12 to 19 stamens, Mignonette, etc. 



\ Icosandria, 20 or more, standing on the calyx. Rose, etc. 

 a. Polyandria, always 20 or more, on the receptacle, 

 Butter-cup, Larkspur, Peony, etc. 



14. Didynamia, 4 stamens, 2 of them uniformly the longest, 



Fox-glove, Balm, Thyme, etc. 



15. Tetr adynamia, 6 stamens, 4 of them uniformly the long- 



art, Gilly-Flower, Honesty, Queen's Rocket, etc. 



16. Monodelphia, stamens united by their filaments in one set, 



anthers being separated, Geraniums, Hibiscus, etc. 



17. Diadelphia, stamens united by their filaments in two sets, 



flowers papilionaceous, or butterfly-shaped. 



18. Polydelphia, stamens in two sets, united at the bottom by 



the filaments, Orange, St. John's Wort, e*. 



