EXOGEN^l THALAMIFLOR^:. 91 



II. FLOWERLESS PLANTS. 



Class 3. ^Etheogamous or Semivascular. 

 Class 4. Amphigamous or Cellular. 



CLASS I. EXOGEN.E. 



This is the largest class in the vegetable kingdom, com- 

 prehending more species than all the others put together. The 

 subclasses are the following : 



1 . Thalamiflora. A calyx and corolla. Petals distinct ; 

 Stamens hypogynous. 



2.* Calycifloree. A calyx and corolla. Petals distinct ; 

 Stamens perigynous. 



3. Corottiflorte. A calyx and corolla. Petals united, 



bearing the stamens. 



4. Monochlamydea. A calyx only, or none. 



SUBCLASS J. THALAMIFLOIU3. 



I- Order 1. Ranunculaceee. Herbs or shrubs, occasionally 

 climbing. Leaves with the petiole generally dilated, and the 

 blade very often palmate or digitate. Sepals 3-6, usually 

 deciduous. Petals 3-15, or none. Stamens indefinite ; an- 

 thers adnate. Carpels numerous, or united into a single pistil. 

 Seeds either erect or pendulous. 



USES. Generally acrid, bitter, narcotic plants, with vesi- 

 cating leaves, as Aconite, Stavesacre, Crowfoot. Some however 

 have the bitter principle predominant and the acridity slight, 

 as Hydrastis canadensis, Coptis, Xanthorhiza, which are 

 tonics. 



* These are not exactly the characters given by De Candolle, who includes all 

 monopetalous orders with an inferior ovary in Calyciflorae, and limits Corolliflorae to 

 the hypogynous monopetalous orders. But it seems to me more easy in practice to 

 regard Corolliflorae as equivalent to the Monopetalae of Jussieu, while Thalamiflorse 

 and Calyciflorae correspond to the Polypetalso of that author, and MonochlamydejB to 

 his Apefcihe ; and in a series so very artificial as this, we may be pennitted, I think, 

 to consult convenience. 



