TOg BOTANY FOR BEGINNhKS. [Ch. XVil 



olance in the general appearance of these plants, and that an 

 arrangement, which thus brings them together, is properly call- 

 ed an artificial method. 



454. Many families of plants possess a marked resemblance 

 a 'ii form and qualities, and appear evidently as distinct tribe*. 

 If the whole of the vegetable kingdom could thus be distributed 

 into natural classes, the study of botany would be much simpli- 

 fied ; but it has already been remarked, that there are many 

 plants which cannot be thus arranged, and no principle has y p t 

 been discovered for systematic arrangement, which bears any 

 comparison to the Artificial System. 



455. Here plants are conveniently arranged, like words in a 

 dictionary, and thus easily found out and referred to their na- 

 tural classes: no other system exists which can with certainty 

 direct us to these classes. 



In commencing our remarks upon some of the natural fami- 

 lies, we will first consider the 



LILIACEOUS FLOWERS. 



456. These flowers consist of six petals, spreading gradually 

 from the base, and exhibiting a kind of bell-form appearance 

 but differing from the bell-form flowers in being polypetalous. 



457. The number of stamens in the Liliaceous plants is ge- 

 nerally six, sometimes but three ; they are usually alternate with 

 the petals. 



458. The germ of the Liliaceous plants is always of a trian 

 gular form, and contains three cells $ the roots are mostly 

 bulbous. 



459. The Lily has a scaly buib, the Onion a tunicated 01 

 coated bulb, the Tulip has a bulb which seems almost solid and 

 tuberous. 



460. The calyx is mostly wanting in Liliaceous plants, the 

 stems are simple without branches ; the leaves entire, and nerved. 

 To this family belong the Tulip, Lily, Crown-imperial, Dog- 

 tooth-violet, &c. Plants of this natural family usually belong 

 to the class Hexandria ; the Crocus having three stamens, be- 



ongs to the class Triandria. 



454. Can all plants be easily arranged in distinct tribes 1 



455. How are plants arranged in the artificial system 1 

 450. Describe the corolla of liliaceous flowers. 



457. What is said of the stamens of liliaceous plants ? 



458. What is sail of the germ? 



459. Of the root or bulb ? 



460 Ot the calyx, steins, leaves, &e. ? 



