VI INTRODUCTION. 



Having thus endeavoured to give some idea of the nature of the arrangement adopted 

 in the following pages, it now only remains for us to point out the nature of those characters 

 on which the distinctions of ORDERS, GENERA, and SPECIES depend. The orders or families 

 are founded on the same principles as the genera, being merely genera of a more com- 

 prehensive nature, as a genus is a group of species having a close relationship or affinity to 

 each other, but whose characters are of a less important nature, than the order itself. When 

 the genera of a particular order are numerous, they have been grouped into sub-orders or 

 tribes, whose characters are of less importance than those of the orders, but greater 

 than those of the genera ; the characters on which all these are founded, are usually 

 derived from the fruit, flowers, and seed, and the appearance of the leaves, whether stipulate 

 or exstipulate, alternate, or opposite ; but species differ from each other in the shape, nature, 

 or position of the leaves,. petals, bracteas, &c., and in the situation and disposition of the 

 flowers. Genera, whereof the species are numerous, have been separated into sections and 

 divisions, which may be termed sub-genera, being distinguished by characters of a lesser 

 importance. Varieties are either minor distinctions depending upon soil, situation, habita- 

 tion, culture, or colour of the flowers, but when they possess features of a more permanent 

 nature they have been termed sub-species. Hybrids are plants arising from the commixture 

 of two species, and which by impregnation partake of the nature and properties of both 

 parents. 



We shall conclude these introductory observations with an outline of the Linnaean 

 artificial method, a knowledge of which may be of advantage to some readers of the system, 

 as the Linnagan class and order are given at the beginning of each generic character in the 

 body of the work : and with instructions for the management of hothouse plants, &c. 



INTRODUCTION TO THE ARTIFICIAL SYSTEM OF LINNAEUS. 



CLASSES. Class IV. TETRANDRIA (from Ttrpas, four). Stamens 



FIRST GRAND DIVISION. ^ E ^ > ^^ 



Class V. PENTANDRIA (from TTSVTS, five). Stamens 



PLANTS with conspicuous flowers, that is to say, having five. Example Solarium. 



the parts of fructification evident. Class VI. HEXANDRIA (?g, six). Stamens six. Ex- 



1. Flowers hermaphrodite. am P le ^arcitats. 



Class VII. HEPTANDRIA (from ?irrn, seven). Stamens 



* Stamens not united. seven. Example Msculus. 



Class I. MONANDRIA (from /uovoc, one, and avijp av- Class VIII. OCTANDRIA (from OKTW, eight). Stamens 



Spoc, a male). Stamen one. Example Canna. eight. Example Erica and Fuchsia. 



Class II. DIANDRIA (from &e, twice). Stamens two. Class IX. ENNEANDRIA (from twea, nine). Stamens 



Example Veronica. nine. Example Rheum. 



Class III. TRIANDRIA (from T/MIC, three). Stamens Class X. DECANDRIA (from SEKH, ten). Stamens ten. 



three. Example Crocus and Valeriana. Example Rhododendron and Baptisia. 



