Plants. 



Numerous are the works which have 

 been written, especially in later times, on 

 the science -of botany, and various sys- 

 tems, or classifications of plants have 

 from time to time been proposed; but 

 the sexual system of Linnaeus is at pre- 

 sent generally received. This naturalist 

 has cjrawn a continued analogy between 

 the vegetable economy and that of the 

 animal ; and has derived all his classes, 

 orders, and genera, from the number, 

 situation, and proportion of the parts ot 

 fructification. In twenty-four classes, 

 he has comprehended every known genus 

 and species. In considering a plant 

 with a view to its characteristics, or dis- 

 tinguishing features, it is divided by Lin- 

 naeus into the following parts, making so 

 many outlines, to which the attention o 

 the botanical observer must be directed ; 

 1. Root ; 2. Trunk ; 3. Leaves ; 4. Props 

 5. Fructification ; 6. Inflorescence. 1* 

 The root consists of two parts, the caudex 

 and the radicula. The caudex, or stump, 

 is the body or knob of the root from which 

 the trunk and branches ascend, and the 

 fibrous roots descend, and is either solid, 

 bulbous, or tuberous 5 solid, as in trees* 



