24 DISTINCTIONS OF VEGETABLES. 



The further illustration of this, or any other sys- 

 tematic arrangement of plants, is not intended in 

 these essays, here it would be superfluous, seeing 

 there are already so many excellent hooks on the 

 subject. But by taking a general view of the vege- 

 table kingdom, opportunity will be afforded to mark 

 the physical structure, notice the organic functions, 

 and describe the manner of development of the va- 

 rious plants which differ most from each other in 

 constitutional character and appearance. 



The elementary structure and organisation have 

 been already adverted to, and which sufficiently mark 

 the distinguishing characteristics of Jussieas two 

 grand divisions : we may next notice the peculiarities 

 of development which identify the classes of his 

 natural arrangement : viz. 



Acotyledones. Are plants which rise destitute of 

 visible seed-leaves. Linnaeus long ago noticed the 

 evident difference there is between the first foliar 

 expansions (when there are any such) of his Cryp- 

 togamia and those of the more perfect plants ; con- 

 ceiving the seedlings of the former to be more like 

 viviparous than oviparous progeny : hence he called 

 them propagines. The seed-leaves of the crypto- 

 gamous Foliacece being similar in structure and ap- 

 pearance to all that follow, and the whole plant being 

 mostly of a cellular and uniform texture, the dis- 

 tinction is obvious. We say mostly, because Jussieu 

 himself admits, that some of the Filices are partly 

 vascular, though without spiral vessels. 



