110 Scientific Intelligence. 
class than as suborders of an extensive order, fu ully admitting, how 
their close affinity énter se), followed by a brief indication of the prineip 
investigators of these plants, and of the resources at his own command. 
general account of the organs of vegetation and reproduction, of the 
affinities, of the dps are write of the plants of the group, and 
of = properties and uses, conclude the preliminary matter. The bod 
of the work is occupied by ‘their vadaaes arrangement and description. 
rsa being viewed as degenerations of Polypetale, our author 
upuliferce pallies deiteresath them. "Spon this ingenious plan 
ntation, the apetalous orders throughout may be most conveniently 
and preci ‘rw? oe their superior types ;—bearin g in mi 
types much within an order (¢. g. Huphorbiacee, : 
Onagracee inclusive of Hadorogen, Caryophylacem eat Iilecebrea) 
as eas do through a series of two or three orders, or even as the same 
es (e. g- ae aoc a series of sie on the other — 
ae of ‘dhe pyr 
The reason nee this mode’ of representation will exhibit botanical 
affinities so well is, that (as we have elsewhere remarked) the ve egetable 
kingdom does not culminate, —as the animal kingdom does,—and there 
fore offers no foundation whatever in nature for a lineal arrangement 
of its great groups. But it would appear that the Dicotyledonous orders 
might be arranged under a considerable number of short series, in groups 
ce upon the most fully developed or representative order of each 
so as to exhibit what we now know of the system of satel much 
better than in any other way. 
i that Dr. Weddell’s idea of the woe of Urticacee is a good 
he floral and seminal characters, the true criteria of affinity a7 
not eee rrent, but present some strong points of relationship, as do 
organs of vegetation, These, once established, allow us to feel the font 
of the striking coineidence in the bast-tissue of the bark, so remar 
in all this allianee for the length, fineness, and toughness of the fibres 
ing them for their woe as textile materials, in which Urticacee vie with 
Malvacee and Tiliac 
to Bidiephical distribution, Europe is very poor in Urticee, poor 
even than would at first view be su »_ as the authox remarks. 
as — like an iS geinnge soil, the five or six European species 
an 
so abound around habitations that they make up in the 
