194 HOW TO STUDY PLANTS. [LESSON 32. 



Two sets of characters are now presented, indicated by daggers. 

 In our flower the outer perianth-segments are decidedly smaller, and 

 the stigmas are sessile, so that no hesitation is felt in determining 

 upon the only genus in that group, CALOCHORTUS. 



564. Turning to page 352, we find but two species within the 

 range of our Manual, the choice between which can be readily made. 

 It will be seen that 0. Nuttallii was first described by Torrey and 

 Gray in one of the Pacific Railroad Reports, arid that (7. Gunnisoni 

 was first characterized by Mr. Watson in his Botany of the Fortieth 

 Parallel, known as King's Expedition. 



565 Whenever the student has fairly studied out one species of 

 a genus, he will be likely to know the others when he sees them. 

 And when plants of another genus of the same order are met wiih, 

 the order may generally be recognized at a glance, from the family 

 resemblance. For instance, having first become acquainted with 

 the Crowfoot Family in the genus Ranunculus, we recognize it 

 at once in the Anemones, in Caltha and Trollius, and even in the 

 Larkspurs and Columbines, although these belong to as many 

 different genera. Having examined Mitnulus, we immediately 

 recognize the Figwort Family in the Foxgloves and Gerardias ; 

 while our knowledge of Calochortus will be suggestive of all the 

 Lily Family. 



566. So the study of one plant leads naturally and easily to the 

 knowledge of the whole order or family of plants it belongs to; 

 which is a great advantage, and a vast saving of labor. For 

 although we have about ninety orders of Flowering Plants, repre- 

 sented in our Botany of the Rocky Mountains by over 2,000 species, 

 yet half of these species belong to nine or ten of these orders ; and 

 more than four fifths of the species belong to forty of the orders. 

 One or two hundred species, therefore, well examined, might give 

 a good general idea of our whole botany. And students who will 

 patiently and thoroughly study out twenty or thirty well-chosen 

 examples will afterwards experience little difficulty in determining 

 any of our Flowering Plants and Ferns, and will find the pleasure 

 of the pursuit largely to increase with their increasing knowledge. 



567. And the interest will be greatly enhanced as the student, 

 rising to higher and wider views, begins to discern the System of 

 Botany, or, in other words, comprehends more and more of the Plan 

 of the Creator in the Vegetable Kingdom. 



