80 GENERA. 



tute a distinct family or kind, no less permanent, and 

 founded in the immutable laws of the creation, than the 

 different species of such a genus. Smith. Take, for 

 example, the various species of Rose ; these compose 

 a beautiful genus, known to the most ignorant, merely 

 by a certain combination of ideas, which he is unable 

 to express, but which is clearly distinguished by a defi- 

 nite character, which, in the present instance, consists, 

 principally in the urn-shaped calyx, the enlargement 

 or swelling below the flower. The Violets form, also, 

 a beautiful genus, and the Lilies another. Other fa- 

 miliar examples of genera occur in the several families 

 of Oaks, Pines, Cherry trees, Willows and Birches. 



2. A genus is aptly compared to a family, and has- 

 one name, called the generic name, applied to all the in- 

 dividuals composing it, while each individual or species 

 has, in addition, its own peculiar name, called the spe- 

 cific name ; thus we have Lilium Canadense, Lilium 

 Philadelphicum, &c. 



3. A genus may consist of one species only, although 

 it is commonly composed of more. Ex. Linncea is the 

 only species of its genus. 



4. Genera are as much founded in nature, as the 

 species which compose them. 



Observation, 1 Although naturalists assume characters, and form 

 artificial divisions as they please, yet they all agree nearly in the 

 genera, which are sufficient!/ marked by nature. 



5. Plants of the same genus possess similar medici- 

 nal powers. 



Observation. This is in general true, yet there are so many ex 

 ceptions that " the final appeal must be to experience." Al- 

 though their properties may be similar in kind, yet very different 

 effects may be produced, by the different degree in which they 

 possess these properties. 



Generic Characters. 



THE GENERIC CHAHACTER is that mark or set of 

 marks which distinguishes one genus from all others. 



1. The genric characters are taken exduswdyjrotti the 

 seven parts of fructification. 



