NATURAL ORDERS. 103 



held to the light, be found running parallel with each other, unlike 

 net-work and unarticulated with the stem, then it is also known that 

 the plant sprung from a single cotyledon, as lily, indian corn, wheat, 

 the grasses, etc. These are remarkable evidences of harmony in 

 nature. 



There are 272 orders in this system. One example may illustrate 

 the others. 



.rfmygdalea, the almond tribe, (including the peach.) The diagnosis 

 is, polypetalous, cotyledons with a superior, solitary, simple ovarium, 

 having a terminal style ; regular perigynous indefinite stamen ; a 

 drupaceous fruit ; an exalbuminous suspended seed and alternate stip- 

 ulate, simple leaves, yielding hydrocynic (prussic) acid. Essential 

 characters (description of the several parts.) Affinities ; distinguished 

 from the rose and apple tribes by their fruit being a drupe, the bark 

 yielding gum and the presence of prussic acid in the leaves and ker- 

 nels, also from the pea tribe by the last characteristic, by their regu- 

 lar petals and stamens and the odd segment of the 5 lobed calyx being 

 inferior, not superior, etc. Geography, (natives of northern hemi- 

 sphere,) Properties, (description of the various qualities.) 



To find by the definition of the class, sub-class and tribe where the 

 class jJmygdalece belongs, the peach may be taken as the represent- 

 ative of all the other species of the order. The peach, then, is 

 characterized by its pith, woody fibre, spiral vessels and bark and dis- 

 tinct flowers furnished with stamens and pistils, showing that it is 

 of class 1, Vasculares, or flowering plants. The leaves also having 

 veins distinctly reticulated and articulated with the stem, and the seed 

 having 2 cotyledons, placed opposite each other, show that it belongs 

 to the sub-class 1, exogenous or dicotyledonous plants. The seed is 

 inclosed in a pericarp, called a peach-stone, it therefore falls under 

 tribe 1, Jlngiospermce. The flowers also being many-petaled brings it 

 under division Polypetalous. 



Essential characters of the peach, calyx 5 toothed, deciduous; 

 petals 5, perigynous; stamens 20 or more, arising from the throat of 

 the calyx ; ovary superior, etc. All the species and varieties of the 

 order dmygdalcce, coincide in the description and qualities noticed, and 

 therefore form one natural order and tribe. Other examples may be 

 taken in the same manner. But we are compelled to be brief; and we 

 have therefore simply noticed some general distinctions in order to 

 lead to further examinations of the natural system of classification. 



Natural Orders. 



This is the arrangement of orders by Jussieu, as before said, and is 



that adopted at the Jardin des Plants, Paris, and by eminent botanists. 



We propose only to take from this arrangement the useful properties 



