LINNtf-.AN ARTIFICIAL SYSTEM. 131 



41. Digynia: Constituted by such plants of the 

 class, as produce flowers with two pistils. 



The Hmeura africanum or African limeum, a native perennial of 

 the Cape of Good Hope, appears to be the only known plant of 

 this order. 



42. Tetragynia: Consisting of such plants of the 

 class, as bear flowers with four pistils. 



Two species of sansurus, the drooping and shining lizard's-tail, 

 both native perennials of North America, ^are the only plants of 

 this order. 



43. Heptagynia: Embracing those plants of the 

 class, which bear flowers with seven pistils. 



There is only one genus of plants to constitute this order, which 

 is the septas, a Cape genus, very nearly allied to crassula, consisting 

 of three species. The septas capensis or Cape septas, is a very sin- 

 gular specimen of this order as respects number ; for in addition to 

 its seven stamens and seven pistils, it is said to have the calyx in 

 seven deep segments, seven petals, seven germens, and consequently 

 seven capsules. 



CLASS VIII. OCTANDRIA. 



44. Character: Plants which produce flowers with 

 eight stamens, belong to this class or arrangement. 

 (F. 181.) 



The class octandria embraces several natural assemblages of ve- 

 getables. The genera willow-herb, guaria, oenothera or tree-prim- 

 rose, osbeckia, and rhexia, form a part of Linnaeus's natural order 

 calycanthemce. These plants, among other characters, have the 

 corolla and the stamens inserted into the calyx. The vaccinium or 

 whortle-berry, and the immense family of erica or heath, are placed 

 in the natural order bicornes. Again, gnidia, leather-wood, daphne, 

 sparrow-wort, and some others, form the natural order vepreculec. 



45. Division : This is rather an extensive arrange- 



