SECTION II. 

 NATURAL ORDERS. 



The following arrangement of Natural Orders, is that of Jussieu, as approv- 

 ed bv Mirbel, and adopted at the Jardin Des Plantes at Paris. Many of the 

 subdivisions of Brown, DeCandoUe, and Lindley, are noticed under their proper 

 heads. These orders are introduced that the student, by reference to tliem in 

 the analysis of plants, may gain general ideas of the agreements which exist 

 among the different vegetable tribes. The author would recommend to teach- 

 ers, to give the advanced pupil these orders as an exercise for occasional recita- 

 tions, dwelling chiefly on the most important divisions. 

 Class I. Acotyledons. 



Embryo destitute of cotyledons, and a scjiarate albumen. 



1. Fungi, or Mushroom-like plmits. These are either parasitical, orspiing Irom 

 the ground naked or enclosed in a volva. The substance of mushrooms is 

 fleshy, fungous, or mucilaginous. They arc round or flat ; some have a pilmis, 

 (signifying hat.) They have neither leaves nor flowers. Instead of anthers, 

 they have a scattered, external or internal powder. Instead of pistils they have 

 organs, which resemble thin plates, wrinkles, pores, tubes. «fec. In these organs 

 exists a substance analogous to seeds, called sporules, which germinates and re- 

 produces the species. The diflerent species of fungi are known by the common 

 names of toad-stool, puff-ball, &c. The medicinal qualities of this order are, 

 tonic when dry, narcotic when juicy. Some are eatable, others poisonous. 



2. Musci. Moss-like plants These are little herbaceous plants, often resem- 

 bling trees in miniature. They grow in humid situations, and are found in the 

 most northern latitudes which are known to produce vegetation. They resem- 

 ble the Hepaticse in their general appearance, but the latter are destitute of the 

 operculum or lid which covers the seed vessel of the mosses. 



o. Alg^. Sea-ioeed-likc plants. Aquatic; differently coloured, herbaceous, car- 

 lilaginous or membranous , seeds contained in conceptacles, or in the substance 

 of the plant. These plants are found both in salt -waters, and in ponds, ditcho 

 and rivers. They are often mere tufts of fine filaments. Examples : Sea-rock 

 weed, Fucus, and Conferva. (Plate 8. Figs. 8, 9, 10.) 



4. Lichens.* Seldom vegetating on the earth, sometimes upon living plants, 

 IS leaves and bark, often upon stone and dead wood; sometimes pulverulent, 

 dry, or coriaceous ; sometimes thick, woody, or fungous. Colour various. In 

 dry places. Some used in dying , some, food for the arctic rein-deer. 



J3, FiLi'cEs.t Fern-like plants. Roots fibrous, leaves radical, circin ale when 

 voung. Capsules collected in clusters (son) upon the frond or leaf. Examples : 

 Common fern, scouring rush, &c. 



(j. Hepat"icj3. Liveruyort plants. Succulent ; some grow in earth, some in wa- 

 ter, and others are parasites. Resemble the mosses in their general appearance. 



7. Naia'des? Duck-meat Tribe. Floating plants with very cellular stems, 

 and leaves scarcely to be distinguished. Astringent. 



Class II. Monocotyledons. 



Stamens hypogynous (below the germ.; Embryo with one cotyledon. The characters of this 

 class are : — stamen inferior : calyx inferior, whenpresent ; stamen seldom indefinite ; leaves 

 mostly alternate and sheathing. 



8. Aroi'de^. The Amm tribe. Inflorescence a spadix, surrounded by a 

 spatha. Leaves petioled, sheathing at the base with parallel or branching veins. 

 Rods often tuberous. Properties : acrid and heating. Examples: Wild-turnip 

 and Calla. 



9. Ty'ph.e. Cat-tail tribe. Growing in marshes or ditches. Leaves rigid, 

 ensiform, with parallel veins. (See Plate 1. Fig. 6.) 



10. Ctperoi'de,*;. Sedge-grass tribe. Stem herbaceous, simple. Leaves 

 grass-like. Petiole sheathing. Flowers glume-like, in spikes. Roots fibrous. 



* Mirbel makes of this order a division called Hypoxylece. 

 t Mirbel makes of this order a division called Lycopodiaceca. 

 '''^'f. Pistiacecc of Lindley 



