280 BIOLOGY. 



1503. There are as many plants different from each 

 other as there are organs, namely, tissues, anatomical 

 systems and members. 



1504. The sum of all plants is called the vegetable 

 kingdom ; this is the self-substantial representation of all 

 vegetable organs. (Ed. 1st, 1810, p. 123.) 



1505. The vegetable kingdom is consequently the ex- 

 pression of the vegetable idea, or of the perfect plant 

 represented in the multiplicity of individuals ; it is the 

 plant disintegrated, or anatomised, by nature herself. 



1506. Were we therefore acquainted with all vegetable or- 

 gans, we should know their rank and developmental series ; 

 and thus also recognize the character, rank, and develop- 

 mental series of the plants themselves, or their divisions. 

 There can be no doubt that the lowest organs, e. g. the 

 tissues, have been first developed and independently per- 

 fected as plants ; later on they separate into anatomi- 

 cal systems and finally into members, whereby perfect 

 plants must originate. The division or classification 

 of the vegetable kingdom is consequently that of the 

 vegetable organs. The Systematic of plants is a copy 

 of that of their organs, or a plastic representation of the 

 philosophical vegetable anatomy. With this every thing 

 has been granted, which is requisite for the building or 

 erection of the vegetable system. All principles, toge- 

 ther with the methods, rest in the proposition that has 

 been expressed. 



1507. The artificial systems of plants are related to 

 the vegetable kingdom, as the lexicon or dictionary is to 

 language. Those systems which have hitherto been 

 termed natural, but which should properly be called me- 

 thodical, are related to the vegetable kingdom, as the 

 ordinary grammar is to a language. The vegetable 

 system must, however, be related to the vegetable king- 

 dom, as the philosophical or genetic grammar is to lan- 

 guage. This only agrees with the essence of the lan- 

 guage, or is natural. The vegetable system is necessarily 

 a philosophical or genetic one, that alone being truly or 

 legitimately natural. (This system was first propounded 



