4 DESCRIPTION OF 



to the parts of a plant to be examined, and explain the 

 terms used in Botany. 



JS"ow, take some seeds of Beans, Peas, Scarlet- 

 runners, or Acorns. Soak them in water for a night ; 

 after that, you will find the seed- cover readily slip off, 

 and the seed divide into two parts ; each part is called 

 a Cotyledon, or seed-lobe.* PI. I. A. c. c. 



Take some seeds of a Lily, Indian Corn, Wheat or 

 Grain of any kind ; and soak them in water ; you will 

 find that they will not divide into two parts ; they have 

 but one Cotyledon. PL I. B. c. 



The seeds of all Flowering Plants, are thus formed ; 

 with either two Cotyledons or one Cotyledon ; and are 

 divided accordingly, into two classes, named, 



I. DICOTYLEDONS, (or Exogens,) with two Cotyle- 

 dons. 



II. MONOCOTYLEDONS, (or Endogens,) with one 

 Cotyledon. 



There are a great number of Plants, which are 

 Flowerless, bearing seeds, (called Fruit, in Botany) 

 which have no Cotyledons. They form the Third 

 Class, and are called, 



* For explanations of names and terms, see the " Glossary," 

 at the end of the Vol., for much of which information I am in- 

 debted to Dr. Lindley's u Glossary of Botanical Terms." 



