LESSON 30.] HOW TO STUDY PLANTS. 181 



ning, the character of the first great series is given ; then that of 

 the first class, of the first subclass, and of the first division under it. 

 Then, after the name of the order, follows its character (the ordinal 

 character) : under the name of each genus (as, 1. Clematis, p. 35) 

 is added the generic character, or description of what essentially 

 distinguishes it ; and finally, following the name of each specie?, is 

 the specific character, a succinct enumeration of the points in which 

 it mainly differs from other species of the same genus. See, for 

 illustration, Clematis Viorna, p. 36, where the sentence immediately 

 following the name is intended to characterize that species from all 

 others like it. 



521. Under this genus, and generally where we have several spe- 

 cies of a genus, the species are arranged under sections, and these 

 often under subsections, for the student's convenience in analysis, 

 the character or description of a section applying to all the species 

 under it, and therefore not having to be repeated under each species. 

 Under Clematis, also, are two sections with names, or sub-genera, 

 which indicates that they might almost be regarded as two distinct 

 genera. But these details are best understood by practice, in the 

 actual studying of plants to ascertain their name and place. And to 

 this the student is now ready to proceed. 



LESSON XXX. 



HOTV TO STUDY PLANTS. 



522. HAVING explained, in the two preceding Lessons, the gen- 

 eral principles of Classification, and of Botanical Names, we may 

 now show, by a few examples, how the student is to proceed in 

 applying them, and how the name and the place in the system of an 

 unknown plant are to be ascertained. 



523. We suppose the student to be provided with a hand magni- 

 fying-ylass, and, if possible, with a simple microscope, i. e. with a 

 magnify ing-glass, of two or more different powers, mounted on a 

 support, over a stage, holding a glass plate, on which small flowers 

 or their parts may be laid, while they are dissected under the mi- 

 croscope with the points of needles (mounted in handles), or divided 



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