31 



PART I. 



PERFECT PLANTS. 



a plant of the perfect class is detached from the 

 soil, and surveyed externally in the season of flower- 

 ing, it may be perceived, even by the most inatten- 

 tive observer, to be composed of the following 

 distinct parts ; the root, the trunk, the branch, the 

 leaf or frond, the flower, the fruit, and perhaps the 

 seed, which, together with their several peculiari- 

 ties and accompaniments or appendages, are now to 

 be considered. And perhaps no farther classification 

 is absolutely necessary beyond that of taking the 

 several organs in the order in which they have been 

 just named. But as botanists do occasionally distri- Distribu- 

 bute them into several distinct divisions, according 



to the function, duration, or other leading feature of veral or ~ 

 each, it will be proper to take notice of the divisions 

 into which they are thus distributed. 



A division instituted by Linnaeus distributes them into root, 

 into the root, herb, and fructification, the herb com- 

 prehending the trunk, branches, and leaves ; and the tlon> 

 fructification, the flower and fruit.* This is perhaps 

 correct enough considered merely as a division ; but 



* Phil. Bot. sect. 79. 

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