177 



the families to be represented in it should be somewliat comparable to reflec- 

 tions on two mirrors sliowing images of objects lying between tlie mirrors 

 placed at an acute angle, wliile tlie families in tbe present sjstem are com- 

 parable to images on two miiToi-s placed at au obtuse angle^l Cousequently, tlie 

 ideal sj^stem sliowing all the relations of everj- two or every group of more than 

 two of all the families, separately as well as jointly, successivel;y as well as simul- 

 taneously, is something Hke a net of infinite extent with innumerable millions of 

 crystal beads, each on a mesh of a diiferent colour, and each reflecting the 

 images of other beads, according to the illustration used above. (c. L p. 104.) 

 Now, I come to an explanation of the system in particular. As the 

 dynamic relations of the series have been fuUy discussed under the review of 

 Engler's principles and his system in the foregoing pages, I shall here Hmit 

 my explanation to the relations of the famihes. In so doing, however, in order 

 to prevent needless repetition, the explanation of the relations of each two 

 families or the Hterature bearing on the same subject is given in almost all 

 cases only once, either under the heading of one of the latter two famiHes, or 

 under that of the series to which one of the latter two belongs. For example, 

 the relation of famiHes A-B, when it lias been referred to or explained 

 imder family A, is omitted under family B. When the reader finds the latter 

 is the case, as he is regarding family B in the explanation of the dynamic 

 system, and desires to know the explanation of the relation of the famiHes 

 A-B, he is requested to refer to the heading of family A, using the index 

 given at the end of this paper, and examine the explanations under the latter 

 family where he wiU find the information desired or reference to it. 



Subdi^ision ANGIOSPERMiE 



ClaSS MONOCOTYLEDONE^ 



Series I. Pandanales 



1 TyphaceaB''^ : These are related to the Sparganiacege in the axiUary 

 inflorescence and in the distichous leaves. At the same time, they show some 

 resemblance to the Pandanacese in the structure of the male flowers. 



1) Images of an object on two mirrors plnced at an obtuse angle are two, while tliose on two 

 mirrors at an acute ai^le become f our, five, six, , as the angle diminishes. 



2) Nat. Pfl.-fam. II.— 1, p. 185 ; Grebnee, P. — Typhacere, in das Pflanzenreich IV. —8, pp. 6-7. 



