694 SCIENTIFIC RECREATIONS. 



CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS. 



For the groundwork of the system of classification which universally 

 obtains at present, we are indebted to Linnaeus, a Swede, born in 1707. In 

 his classification of plants, Linnaeus followed two different methods. In the 

 one, he based his division of plants in classes and orders, upon certain pecu- 

 liarities in the floral organs. This system, being thus founded on characters 

 taken from certain parts of the plant only, without reference to others, and 

 having something artificial in it, has for that reason been termed the artificial 

 system, but it is now more generally known as the Linncean system. In the 

 other method, he arranged the plants according to certain general resem- 

 blances and affinities, in natural orders or families. This system, which is 

 known as the natural system, has subsequently been much improved. 



We use the term species, to designate a number of individual plants, 

 which, in all essential and unvarying characters, resemble each other more 

 closely than they do any other plant; the term genus or kind, to designate an 

 assemblage of nearly allied species, agreeing with one another in general 

 structure and appearance more closely than they do with any other species. 

 Here, too, it must be obvious, that while all parts of the plant may furnish 

 specific characters, the character of the genera are taken exclusively from the 

 parts of fructification. 



In the name of a plant both the genus and the species are given. The 

 name designating the genus is called the generic name of the plant, the one 

 designating the species, the specific or trivial name. Thus, for instance, we 

 have the genus Viola, which includes the species Viola odorata, sweet violet; 

 Viola canina, dog violet; Viola tricolor, heart's-ease. 



It is necessary to give the Latin names of plants, as the common name 

 differs, not only in different countries, but even in different parts of the same 

 country. 



An assemblage or group of allied genera, agreeing in their general cha- 

 racters, though differing in their special conformation, is called an order or 

 family of plants. 



The sunflower, the daisy, the aster, and the dahlia, are, for example, 

 plants of different genera, but which, all of them, belong to the same order 

 or family. 



All plants are divided into three primary classes viz., Dicotyledons, 

 Monocotyledons, and Acotyledons, as has been stated already. 



A proper degree of familiarity with the systematic classification of plants 

 is of the very highest importance to the student. A successful pursuit of 

 this branch of the botanical science presupposes a thorough knowledge of 

 the structure and physiology of plants, and requires, moreover, the aid of 

 attentive observation, and also some diligence in collecting and arranging 

 plants. 



