104 CLASSES AND ORDERS, 



and distinct characters of the plants under the several classes. Thus 

 far it is important to every reader. 



CLASS 1. ^cotyledons, (embryo destitute of cotyledons.) Fungi, 

 (mushroom-like plants ;) substance fleshy, fungous, or mucilaginous, 

 round or flat, no leaves, flowers, anthers nor pistils ; known as toad- 

 stools, puff -balls, etc. ; tonic when dry, narcotic when juicy ; some eat- 

 able, others poisonous. Musci, (moss-like plants;) herbaceous; grow 

 in wet places, in northern latitudes ; resemble herpatica. dlgce, (sea- 

 weed-like plants ;) aquatic, herbaceous, grow in salt and fresh water; 

 ex. rock-weed, fucus, conferva. Lichens, rarely vegetate on the earth, 

 parasitical, grow in dry places, some used in dyeing and some for food. 

 Filices, (fern -like plants ;) fibrous roots ; ex. common fern, scour- 

 ing rush. Hepatica, (liverwort plants;) succulent; some grow irt 

 water, some in earth ana some are parasites ; resemble mosses. Naia- 

 des, (duck-meat tribe j) floating plants, cellular stems, leaves scarcely 

 seen; astringent. 



CLASS 2. Monocotyledons, (stamens hypogynoos, embryo with 1 co- 

 tyledon.) dndroidea;, (arum tribe,) acrid and heating ; ex. wild-tur- 

 nip, calla. Typhee. (cat-tail tribe;) grow in marshes or ditches. 

 Cyperoidea, (sedge-grass tribe;) herbaceous, leaves grass-like, flow- 

 ers glume-like, roots fibrous. Gramineee, (the grasses;) important 

 family; farinaceous, valuable as food for man and animals ; ex. wheat, 

 meadow-grass, sugar-cane, etc. 



CLASS 3. Monocotyledons, (stamens perigynows / fruits with 3 cells.) 

 Palmce, (palm tribe;) of warm climates. Liliacea>, (lily-like plants;) 

 ex. tulip, lily. dsparagi, (asparagus-like plants ;) fruit a berry. 

 Narcissi, roots bulbous. Irideat, (iris-like plants,) roots tuberous. 

 Juncece, (rush tribe.) Bromlice, (pine-apple tribe.) JlsphodeU, (as- 

 phodel tribe; acrid and stimulating. Commclinca;, (spider-wort tribe.) 

 dlismacea, (arrow-head tribe.) Colchicea:, (cholcicum tribe,) emetic 

 and cathartic. 



CLASS 4. Monocotyledons, (stamens eprgynons.) Orrhirlece. (orchis- 

 like plants,) farinaceous and emolient. MUSCP, (banana tribe ;) ex. 

 plantain and bread-fruit. Cannea, (indian-rced tribe;) aromatic and 

 carminative. Hydrocharid.es, (tape-grass tribe ; floating plants. 



CLASS 5. Dicotyledons, (apetalous, stamens epigynons.) Jlristolo- 

 chicB, (wild-ginger tribe,) perennial. 



CLASS 6. Dicotyledons, (stamens perigynovts ; monosepalous.) Ele- 

 ct gnea> ; ex. pepper-grass. Hymelece, under shrubs ; ex. leather-wood ; 

 bark caustic. Protean, (silver-tree tribe.) LcKttri, (laurel tribe;} 

 trees ; fruit a berry or drupe ; ex. spice bush and sassafras ; various 

 and important medicines. Polygonea, (dock tribe ;)herbaceous ; fruit 

 a nut; seed farinaceous ; ex. buckwheat, dock, rhubarb. Atriplices, 

 (pig-weed tribe;) ex. beet, poke, and pig-weed. 



CLASS 7. Dicotyledons, (stamens beneath the germ.) jlmaranthi, 



