210 LETTER XVII. 



to your study. Although they form only a part of what 

 really exist, yet a clear knowledge of them is a great 

 step towards that of the remainder. I think the dis- 

 tinction will be sufficiently well expressed in a tabu- 

 lar form, without any preliminary explanation, beyond 

 this, that the number of the carpels, out of which the 

 ovary is formed, is the most important fundamental 

 distinction to employ. 



* Ovary formed of more carpels than two. 



Ovarv split into four lobes i blowers regular— 2%e Boraffe tribe.i 

 '' ^ X Flowers ii-regnlar — The Mint tribe. •\ 



Ovarv not snlit " t 1 Vi f Erect bushes — The Heath tribe. 



-' " X Climbing plants — The Bindweed tribe. 



** Ovary formed of two carpels. 

 / Milky ( Anthers all separate — The Harebell tribe. 



Ovary y plants ^ Anthers all united — The Lobelia tribe. 

 inferior ^ Not Milky j Leaves without stipules — The Honey mcMe tribe 

 V. plants ^Leaves with stipules — The Coffee tribe. 



Flowers irregular , . The Foxglove tribe. 



Ovaiy 



C Stamens two . . The Olive tribe, 

 g Flowers y 



reeular "i r ^^^^^^ opposite i The Gentian 



/ c. n \ ribbed > tribe. 



v^otamens nve y ^ 



j Leaves C The Night- 



^ alternate \ shade tribe. 



•*=** Ovary formed of only one carpel. 



Anthers united in a cyhnder . . Composite Flowers. 



Anthers distinct . • The Ribgrass tribe. 



f I hope the learned reader will pardon my having placed these 

 two orders among those whose ovary is formed of more carpels than 

 two. My reason for doing so is that they seem as if so constructed, 

 and it woidd be difficult to make a beginner understand that they 

 are not. 



