LINN^AN ARTIFICIAL SYSTEM. 153 



class ; some assert there are only four, others more or 

 less, but the most general division is into seven ; viz. ma- 

 nandria, diandria, triandria, tetrandria, pentandria, hex- 

 undria and octandria. These are all established on the 

 number of the stamens. 



Linnasns himself attributed three more to the number we have 

 mentioned ; viz. decandria, dodecandria, and polyandria, but these 

 are now entirely abolished and their genera of plants referred to 

 other places. 



130. Monandria : In the first order of the class, we 

 find those plants which have flowers with one stamen or 

 sessile anther. 



The very beautiful and curious tribe of the orchis, are the prin- 

 cipal productions of this order. 



131. Diandria: This subdivision consists of those 

 gynandrous plants, the flowers of which have two 



stamens. 



The genus cypripedium or ladies-slipper, of which the common 

 species is a well known native of this country, is the principal 

 family in this part. 



132. Triandr ia : ~ This is a very trivial order, con- 

 sisting of those plants answering to the character of the 

 class, which have three stamens. 



The rhopium of Schreber, appears to be the only certain genus of 

 the order we are considering. 



133. Tetrandria: This is also a very small order, 

 the plants of which have flowers with four stamens. 



