212 NATURAL HISTORY. 



A Flowering plants, or those with visible flowers. 

 a Hermaphrodite, or those which unite both sexes 

 in the same flower. 



1. The stamens are free and of indefinite lengths. 



CLASS 1. IfoxAXDRiA one stamen Shavegrasa. 



" 2. DIAXDRIA, or with two stamens Privet. 



" 3. TRIAXDBIA with three stamens, as the Corn or Sword Lily. 



" 4. TETRAKDRIA four stamens, as the Lady's Bedstraw. 



" 5. PEXTAXDRIA five stamens Primrose, Anemone. 



" 6. HEXAXDRIA six stamens Leek, Tulip. 



" 7. HEPTANDRIA seven stamens Horse Chestnut. 



gether, in Orders and Tribes, those which are most nearly related in 

 all the features and properties which constitute character. " These 

 various systems may be all regarded as forming only two kinds, namely, 

 the artificial and natural methods, though in point of fact, the artifi- 

 cial methods are more or less founded on nature, and in the most per- 

 fect natural arrangements yet devised, artificial sections, or groupings, 

 are still resorted to as useful helps and expedients. What is called 

 a natural method, is so termed because it expresses the natural rela- 

 tionship of plants as far as practicable ; for every form yet devised, 

 or likely to be contrived, is, to a considerable extent, artificial." 

 The Linncean Classification, founded on the characters of two of their 

 most important organs namely, the stamens and the pistils has the 

 merit of combining some of the advantages of both the artificial and 

 natural methods, and will probably long continue to be employed as 

 a convenient and useful help to the investigations of young beginners. 

 It is remarkable how many natural families of plants are kept nearly 

 entire, under the Sexual System. 



It has been often objected to the Linnsean method, that there are 

 too many exceptions to the rules of classification that a number of 

 genera comprise species which, according to the system, belong to a 

 different Class or Order and thus mislead and puzzle the student. 

 This objection is undoubtedly founded on fact ; nevertheless, to those 

 who are commencing the study of Botany and especially to such as 

 have no other aid than books I would say, avail yourselves of the 

 Linnssan method as the easiest stepping stone to the vestibule of the 

 temple, and the readiest means of acquiring the names and learning 

 some of the characteristics of the more common plants by which the 

 student is surrounded. DARLIN-GTON'S FLORA CESTEICA. Tr. 



