CHAPTER XIV 



CLASSIFICATION 



■ When a number of plants are so closely alike that they obviously 

 may be the offspring of one original parent, they are said to be 

 a number of individuals all belonging to one species. But if 

 two or more plants are very similar, yet exhibit certain constant 

 slight distinctions, they are described as being different species 

 of one genus. For example, in English meadows there are to 

 be found three common kinds of Buttercups — the Bulbous 

 Buttercup, the Creeping Buttercup, and the Meadow Butter- 

 cup. As they possess so many characteristics in com- 

 mon, they are included in one genus. Ranunculus; but as 

 they each display certain characteristics peculiar to them- 

 selves, they receive distinct species-names, and are known as 

 Ranunculus bulbosus, R. repens, and R. acris respectively. 

 When the divergences between two or more plants are more 

 considerable,' they are referred to different genera. For ex- 

 ample, the Clovers are included in the genus Trifolium. 

 Comparing the various genera thus constituted, they exhibit 

 amongst themselves both resemblances and dissimilarities. 

 Those genera which are sufficiently alike are grouped together 

 to form a family or order ; so that all genera are included in 

 certain orders. Thus the Buttercups {Ranunculus) and the 

 Marsh Mallow {Caltha) are included in one order, the Ranun- 

 culaceas; whilst the Clovers {Trifolium) and Vetches {Vicia) 

 belong to another order, the Leguminosae. In like manner 

 the families may be grouped together to form cohorts, then 

 series, then sub-classes, and finally classes ; but this statement 

 will be more easily understood after glancing through the follow- 

 ing scheme of classification of some of the Angiosperms : — ■ 



ANGIOSPERMS. 



Class I. : Dicotyledons. — ^Seedling has two cotyledons. Leaves 

 net-veined. Floral leaves in fours and fives. 



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