Agreement of the parts of fructification, in all essential charac- 

 ters, gives us, as the nearest degree of systematical affinity, the no- 

 tion Genus. Genera which are distinguished from one another by 

 a greater or smaller number of characters, can once more, according 

 to the degree of agreement of several or more characters of fructi- 

 fication, and according to the importance of the same, be considered 

 as nearer or remoter allied ; and further, according to the structure 

 of the seed and the fruit, and no less according to the make of the 

 axis of inflorescence, and the number, position, and relations of 

 connection of the appendicular organs arranged upon it, be compre- 

 hended in Orders and Classes. 



The anatomical characters which express the remotest degrees 

 of affinity and the most essential distinctions, may be employed 

 finally for the construction of principal sections and subsections of 

 the whole Plant-kingdom, under which the inferior sections Class- 

 es, Orders, Genera can be arranged. 



The Plant-kingdom presents no single unbroken series of forms 

 gradually passing into each other, but much rather many Groups, 

 quite distinct from each other, and representing differences of struc- 

 ture. 



The signification, the importance, and the reciprocal relations of 

 different forms, which appear as deviations from a common type, 

 within the particular groups, are also incapable of being represented 

 in a single series. 



But the system, which cannot represent the groups formed after 

 certain types, either as diverging from a common centre, or con- 

 verging thereto, which must, therefore, place them in a single se- 

 ries, does this in an ascending sequence, according to the higher 

 and more manifold development of all parts, in which sequence all 

 are brought into order arbitrarily. 1 It can, therefore, be considered 

 a natural scheme only in so far as it includes the notion of nearer 

 affinity under that of remoter. 



According to the two ground-differences which appear in the 

 anatomical structure of plants, they divide into two principal groups, 

 the one consisting wholly of cells Cell-plants (Plants cellulares; 

 Thallophyta), and the other of cells and vessels, and having, also, 

 an axis and appendicular organs, Vessel-plants or Axis-plants 

 (Plantce vasculares; Cormophyta). 



The THALLOPHYTA fall into two Sections; I. Protophyta (under 

 which are the Classes Algs and Lichenes), and II. Hysterophyta 

 (Fungi). 



The CORMOPHYTA divide into three Sections; I. Acrobrya 

 (Musci; Filices; Cycadeae ; Rhizantheae ;) II. Amphibrya (Grami- 

 nese ; Cyperacese ; Liliaceae ; OrchidesB ; Palmse, &c.). III. Acram- 

 phibrya (containing the Dicotyledoneous plants generally). 



Under these Sections the Classes are arranged, and under them 

 follow the Orders. No further view of Endlicher's System seems 

 necessary in this place beside what is given in the following 

 scheme, which can be compared with the similar one of Fries's 

 System, subjoined. 



1 It is, however, not essential whether the series be ascending or descending. 



