26 DISTINCTIONS OF VEGETABLES. 



Fig. 6. Fig. 7. Fig. 8 



Aeotyledoneae. Monocotyledoneae. Dicotyledonear. 



Conferva. Cocos. Sinapis. 



These are the divisions and classes under which 

 the vegetable kingdom is arranged by the celebrated 

 Jussieu, and as improved by the no less celebrated 

 De Candolle. Its excellence as a system consists in 

 its being founded on the most remarkable and obvious 

 distinctions observable in nature, namely in ele- 

 mental structure, in the components of the seed, 

 in the arrangement of the floral appendages, on 

 affinity in resemblance and essential qualities, and 

 on general character. It is very probable that its 

 author conceived, at the outset, his scheme would 

 not only simplify, but greatly compress the science 

 into narrower bounds, and thereby enable the student 

 to grasp the whole with but little application. But 

 this, if ever expected, has riot been verified ; for such 

 is the diversity of vegetable forms and qualities, that 

 the system has become in his own and followers' 

 hands, so very complex and diffuse, that the orders, 



