23 



DISTINCTIONS OF VEGETABLES. 



THE vegetable kingdom is naturally divided, ac- 

 cording to some old botanists, into four divisions, 

 namely, trees, shrubs, herbs, and what may be called 

 terrene plants. Recently published lists enumerate 

 above one hundred thousand in the whole : compris- 

 ing 3416 genera ; above 32,000 species ; with varie- 

 ties and sub-varieties innumerable ! 



For the facility of studying, identifying, and 

 describing this vast assemblage of vegetable produc- 

 tions, botanists have arranged it into 



Divisions, founded on the elemental structure, viz. 

 vasculares and cellulares. 



Classes, on the number of the cotyledons or semi- 

 nal leaves, as respects monocotyledones and dicoty- 

 ledones, and on the want of, or presence of, foliaceous 

 structure in the plants of acotyledones. 



Sub-divisions, on the calyx and corolla being, or 

 not being distinct. 



Sub-classes, on the situation of the stamens. 



Orders, on the most prevailing character. 



Tribes, on near alliances. 



Genera, on ancient and modern names and cha- 

 racters. 



Species, on individual character. 



