17 



twoen Alismacese, Spirese, Ranunculacese, which yet are analogous 

 as to their fruit.) From the Flower, then, we take the third means 

 of division, and thereby form Classes. In the Nemea? the present 

 grade of metamorphosis is wanting, and its place is supplied by 

 the relation of the whole fructification to the vegetative system. 

 There are hence few classes in the Nemese, and many in the Dico- 

 tyledonese, though the former are superior in the number of species. 

 The classes, for the present, at least, received by me, are derived 

 from the epigynous, amphigynous, (which I do not regard synony- 

 mous with perigynous), or hypogynous site of the corolla. The lat- 

 ter I consider the lowest, and the first in every point of view the 

 highest, and no less I reckon the monopetalous corolla a higher de- 

 gree of evolution than the polypetalous, and that the latter, and not 

 the former, ascends naturally from the Apetate. I reduce, finally, 

 all irregular corollas to their regular type. 



Last, we have the Fruit, wherein the differences especially vary, 

 so that all the primary kinds of fruit occur conjoined with a single 

 type of flower. In this, then, we find the fourth means of subdivis- 

 ion, into Orders. 



These, then, adds the author, are the lineaments of the system. 

 Whether you call it artificial or natural is to me indifferent. The 

 matter of it is certainly natural, and the form as certainly artificial. 

 But this is to me of the very genius of a true system. By this key, 1 

 have not yet found that any plants, manifestly and by consent of all 

 allied, are sundered ; and in doubtful matters this has been to me 

 itself a cynosure.' 



The only further view of the system of Fries that I can give, is 

 the key prefixed by him to his above-cited Flora Scanica, which, 

 however, may be taken as perfectly representative of the whole. 

 As it is arranged to display affinity and analogy throughout, (the 

 definition of which terms, as here understood, has already been 

 given,) it acquires the more interest, and makes necessary a few re- 

 marks on series, which I take principally from the Lichenographia. 

 Series are either progressive or regressive. In the progressive series 

 the vegetative system is especially luxuriant, and it has affinity 

 therefore both with inferior and superior provinces. In the regres- 

 sive series, there is a tendency to fructification and the development 

 of this system, and hence, the characters of the province being 

 more sharply limited, and, as it were, forced to an extreme, there is 

 no true affinity, either with superior or inferior sections, but the whole 

 stiffens, so to speak, into forms especially allied to one another. 

 Examples of regressive series are Musci ; Lichenes among Algae ; 

 and yet more Fungi ; and again, Graminese among Monocotyledo- 

 neous plants. Of progressive series, we have examples in Filices, ap- 

 proaching Monocotyledonese, and Monocotyledoneous Hydrophyta 

 approaching Dicotyledonea?. We can discern these series in every 

 province. The regressive series, however imperfect, is later in the 

 series of evolution than the progressive : the most simple organ- 

 isms, therefore, are not first in the order of production, nor does 

 nature simply proceed, but also recede. The differences, finally, 

 of superior sections, are signified, though less discretely, in inferior. 

 2* 



