610 Classification of Plants. 
plants from the southern hemisphere. Hence it follows that 
we have a very much larger number of species to select from 
in this division than in the woody, and by judicious selection 
we may ensure a continuous display of flowers from early 
spring till the end of autumn, whilst a few cold-defying species 
serve to enliven the winter months. Several large orders consist 
almost exclusively of herbaceous plants. This will be seen on 
reference to the Ranunculacexw, Papaveraces, Cruciferee, Caryo- 
phyllee, Malvacee, Composite, Campanulacew, Polemonia- 
ces, Primulacee, Gentianee, Scrophularinese, Convolvulacesr, 
Labiate, Borraginew, Liliacez, Iridee, Amaryllidex, ete. In 
addition to these, there are many other hardy species, represent- 
ing at least fifty more natural orders. Herbaceous plants are 
either monocarpic or polycarpic (fruiting only once, or fruiting 
more than once). But the more familiar classification of herbs, 
according to their duration, is better suited for practical pur- 
poses. Perennial plants with few exceptions are polycarpic, and 
biennials and annuals are naturally monocarpic; some perennials, 
especially tender ones, that will flower the same season from 
seed, are treated as annuals; and some annual plants may be 
preserved in the absence of seed by propagating them from 
cuttings. But at best this is a very unsatisfactory procedure, 
except where the loss of a valuable species or variety depends 
upon the life of a single individual. In the following arrange- 
ment of herbaceous vegetation, we have preferred references to 
orders and genera in many instances instead of giving detailed 
lists of species, as it will be necessary to turn to the descriptive 
portion for information respecting height, colour, ete. 
a. Perennial Herbs.—There is great diversity in the nature 
and habit, as well as in the uses of herbaceous plants. One of 
the principal distinctions, from a practical poi:ft of view, is 
the nature of the root or rootstock (or underground stem); it is 
fibrous, fleshy, tuberous, rhizomatous, or bulbous of some degree 
or modification. The only modifications generally distinguished 
by horticulturists are the extreme forms of the bulb, tuber and 
rhizome. Nearly all of the bulbous plants, whether with scaly 
bulbs as in the Lilies, or solid bulbs (corms) as in the Crocuses, 
belong to three or four of the Endogenous natural orders, such 
us the Liliacew, Melanthacee, Amaryllidex, ete. We-men- 
tion this fact here more particularly because it is necessary to 
pursue a different method of treatment for most plants of this 
class. 
