152 SYSTEM OF LINNAEUS. 



from the less trouble to determine the guiding points of 

 the inquiry. Finally, by the one we unfold an extended 

 system of organization and its results ; by the other we 

 form a catalogue which is easily referred to, but it must 

 be owned not one raisonne. 



5. The best artificial system is that of Linnseus ; the 

 most universally received natural one is that of Decan- 

 dolle. Of these two alone we shall speak, giving a ge- 

 neral view of the former, but entering more into detail 

 as regards the latter. 



The Artificial, or Sexual System of Linn&us. 



6. In 1731 Linnaeus gave to the world a system for 

 arranging plants in definite groups, which groups were 

 made to depend upon the number, position, and relative 

 size or connection of the organs of generation. The most 

 general divisions or classes of it, were twenty-four in num- 

 ber ; twenty of these derived their characters from the sta- 

 mens ; three from the relations of the stamens and pistils ; 

 and one upon circumstances peculiar to it alone, a nega- 

 tion of generative organs, analogous to those indicating 

 the other division. The next general divisions, or orders, 

 depended chiefly upon the relations of the pistils, though 

 sometimes upon those of the stamens. 



EXEMPLIFIED IN 



1. Monandria . . One stamen in each flower. as in Zingiber officinale. 



2. Diandria . . . 



3. Triandria . . 



4. Tetrandria. . 



5. Pentrandria. 



6. Hexandria. . 



7. Heptandria . 



8. Octandria . . 



9. Enneandria 



10. Decandria. . 



11. Dodecandria 



, Two stamens Olea europoea. 



, Three stamens Saccharum officinarum . 



, Four stamens Rubia tinctorium. 



. Five stamens Hyoscyamus niger. 



. Six stamens Scilla maritima. 



. Seven stamens Trientalis europoea. 



. Eight stamens Polygonum bistorta. 



.Nine stamens Lauras cinnamomum. 



. Ten stamens Cassia senna. 



, Eleven to nineteen stamens Cauella alba. 



Icosandria . . . Twenty or more stamens ) R centifolia . 



placed on the calyx . . j 



