OF PLANTS. 



names of the genera correspond with our family names, 

 and those of the species with our Christian names. 



Mrs. B. Very true. It is to the celebrated Linnaeus 

 that we are indebted for this simple and clear mode of 

 nomenclature ; and it is one of the circumstances which 

 has contributed most to facilitate the study of botany. 

 Since, then, the basis of nomenclature rests on the idea 

 of genera, you may judge how important it is that this 

 idea should be clearly understood, and that plants not 

 possessing the requisite analogy should not be placed in 

 the same genus. 



Emily. It would be easy to ascertain this analogy 

 with regard to the species, by sowing their seeds : but I 

 know not what test there is to verify the genus of a plant? 



Mrs. B. No wonder you should be at a loss, for it is 

 a question which has embarrassed the most celebrated 

 botanists. There is but one means of forming a clear 

 idea of genera : it is by placing its distinguishing char-, 

 acters in those organs of the plants, which, in the com- 

 mon course of Nature, are least liable to variation. Now, 

 it has been observed, that stems and leaves more fre- 

 quently vary in their structure than flowers and fruit : 

 botanists have, therefore, agreed to place the characters 

 of the genera in the organs of fructification. 



Emily. But are not flowers of the same species some- 

 times blue, and sometimes white ; sometimes large, and 

 at others, small ? How, then, can you establish the char- 

 acter of the genera, on circumstances which cannot even 

 serve to distinguish the species ? 



Mrs. B. The difference or resemblance of organs, 

 must not all be considered as of equal importance, in de- 

 ciding the genus of the plant. All such as relate to color, 

 flavor, smell, consistence, and the absolute size of the 

 organs, must, in classification, be set aside ; and those 

 only which are connected with the symmetry of the flower 

 or fruit, the number of plants, their shape, and relative 

 size, are to be attended to. 



1376. What analogy does Emily say there is between the names of 

 our families and the names of plants'? 1377. To whom are we indebt- 

 ed for this mode of nomenclature 1 1378. How can the genus of a 

 plant be determined 1 1379. What has been observed in relation to 

 this subject! 1380. In what are placed by Botanists the characters 

 of the genera'? 1381. In the classification of plants what circum- 

 stances must be set aside, and what ones attended tol 



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