298 LINN^AN 



7. HEPTANDRIA Stamens 7. 

 A very small Class. 



8. OCTANDRIA 8. 



9. ENNEANDRIA 9- 



A small Class. 



10. DECANDRIA. 10. 



11. DODECANDRIA 12 to 19- 



12. ICOSANDRIA ( 20 or more Stamens, 



inserted into the Calyx. Here we first find the 

 situation of the Stamens taken into consideration. 

 They grow out of the sides of the Calyx, often 

 from a sort of ring, as in the Strawberry. This is 

 truly a natural Class, as are several of the following 

 ones ; so that in these instances the Linnaean method 

 of arrangement performs more than it promises. The 

 character of this Class is the more important, as such 

 a mode of insertion indicates the pulpy fruits which 

 accompany it to be infallibly wholesome, and this 

 holds good, not only when the stamens are nume- 

 rous, but in all other cases. Thus Ribes, the Cur- 

 rant and Gooseberry genus, whose five stamens grow 

 out of the calyx, stands in the fifth Class, a whole- 

 some fruit, among many poisonous berries. No 

 traveller in the most unknown wilderness need 

 scruple to eat any fruit whose stamens are thus 

 situated; while on the other hand he will do well 

 to be cautious of feeding on any other parts of the 

 plant. 



