i62 CLASSIFICATION 



from it others which are wanting in all, or almost all, 

 these important characters. The second system of 

 classification has therefore been termed natural. 



There are several artificial systems of classification, 

 but the one which is of special importance to Indian 

 students is the Linnean System, named after Lin- 

 naeus, the father of Botany. It is also known as the 

 sexual system, because it is based on the number and 

 conditions of the sexual organs (stamens and carpels). 

 Its special importance lies in the fact that the only 

 easily available book describing the plants of India 

 is (Clarke's edition of) Roxburgh's Flora Indica 

 (R.F.I), which is based on the Linnean system. In 

 this system the plants have been primarily divided 

 into 24 classes, according to the number, nature, and 

 distribution of the stamens. Thus, plants with one 

 stamen are placed in the Class Monandria, those with 

 two stamens in the Class Diandria, and so on. These 

 classes are further divided into Orders, according 

 to the number of their styles or stigmas, or according 

 to the number and condition of stamens which have 

 not been used as the basis of Classes, or according 

 to the nature of flowers or fruits. Thus plants with 

 one style or stigma are placed in the Order Mono- 

 gynia, those with two styles or stigmas in the Order 

 Digynia, and so on. A detailed scheme of the 

 Linnean system of classification as adopted in Rox- 

 burgh is given below: — 



