38 



THE FLOWER. 



5th. Absence. The four remaining classes depend upon the 

 absence of the stamens in a part or all of the flowers of the same 

 species. 



XXI, MONCECIA (povog, owo$, an abode), includes plants 

 where the stamens and pistils are in separate flow- 

 ers, on the same individual. 



XXII, DICECIA (dig, otxos), in separate flowers on different 

 individuals. 



XXIII, POLYGAMIA (nolvg, many, ya^og, marriage), where the 



stamens and pistils are separate in some flowers, 

 and united in others, either on the same or two or 

 three different plants. 



XXIV, CRYPTOGAMIA (xyvmog, concealed, ya^og), includes 



those genera of plants where the stamens and pis- 

 tils are wanting, or at least invisible, commonly 

 called FLOWERLESS PLANTS. (46 49.) 



a. Such are the twenty-four Linnean classes, in which all the genera of the vege- 

 table kingdom are included. Nothing could have been more simple than the first 

 eleven. To distinguish them, we have only to count the stamens. The other 

 classes are founded upon distinctions less simple, though in general easy to be 

 understood. A good specimen flower of each class should here be closely exam- 

 ined, to illustrate the definitions, and fix them in the memory. 



The following simple figures are emblematic of each class, to which the pupil 

 is required to apply the appropriate numbers and names. 



FIG. 9. Stamens. 



