1 76 ANALYSIS OF A POLTPETALO0S HEEB. 



, ANALYSIS OF A POLTPETALOUS HEKB. 



920. To DBrEEMmE THE COHORT. A good specimen of a little yellow-flowered 

 herbaceous plant, common in the grassy fields of cool regions, is supposed to be ^ow 

 in the hands of each pupil of the class. (1.) The first pupil, reading (if necessary) 

 the characteristic of each sub-kingdom, pronounces the plant one of the Phseno- 

 gamia, and refers the next pupil to the Provinces, 1 or 2. 



(2.) The next reads the characters of those Provinces, and comparing the speci- 

 men (which has net-veined leaves and 5-merous flowers), concludes that it is an Exo- 

 gen. Eefer next to the Classes, 1 or 2. ' 



(3.) " Flowers with stigmas, and pistils, &o. 



" Mowers with open scales instead of pistils (or no pistils at all)," &c. Our 

 plant has pistils, Ac, and is (moreover, not a pine, spruce or cedar). It is, there- 

 fore an Angiosperm. Eefer next to Cohort 1, 2, or 3. 



(4.) "Corolla with distinct petals." — This characterizes our plant, and it is pro- 

 nounced " Polypetalous." Eefer then to (A). 



921. To DETERMiKff THE Natubal Obdeb, the (5th) pupil reads the first alterna- 

 tive, or triplet, noted by a star (*), and comparing his plant, finds it to correspond 

 with the first line, for it is an " herb with alternate leaves." Pass now to (11). 



(6.) " Flowers regular or nearly so. Fruit never a legume." 



"Flowers irregular," &o.' The flower is regular. Pass to (13). 



Again a pupil reads : — 



(7.) " Stamens 3 — 10 times as many as the petals." 



" Stamens few and definite." — The stamens are many. Pass to (15). Ths 

 next (8) pupil reads, compares, and determines that the stamens are " perigynous on 

 the base of the calyx," and announces the letter (d) as the reference to the next 

 alternative. (9.) Next, the pupil reads and compares Ills specimen with the triplet 

 (d), and concludes that the sepals are 5. Eefer then to the dash ( — ). (10.) Lastly- 

 the pupil determines that the sepals are imbricated in the bud, and consequently 

 belongs to the Nat. Ord. Eosacea 



922. To DETERMINE THE G-EKUS. After a careful Comparison of his specimens with 

 the brief diagnosis of the Eoseworts (page 325), in order to verify the analysis thus 

 far (11), the learner consults the Table of the Genera, and inquires the character o£ 

 the carpels, styles, &c., in order to learn the suborder of the plant. As the carpels 

 are many, and free, he concludes that it is of the Suborder Eoseae. Next learn its 

 tribe. (12.) As the "carpels are 1-seeded in an open calyx," we infer that its 

 tribe is Eosida3. Eefer to (. (13.) Are the "styles persistent," etc., or "deciduous," 

 etc. 7 They are deciduous ; refer now to the d'ash ( — ). (14.) Inquire, " Calyx 

 bractless?" or "calyx braoteolate ?" As the calyx is braoteolate (having five little 

 leaves close to the calyx beneath, as if a double calyx), we refer again to the dash 

 (— ). (15.) "Receptacle pulpy" or "spongy," or "dry?" The latter is true, 

 carrying us to the next dash ( — ). (16). Finally, are the "stamens oo." or "5?" 

 They are numerous, and Potentilla is the genus sought. 



923.' To DETERMINE THE SPECIBS. Having compared the generic description of Po- 

 tentilla with our specimens, and assured ourselves of its agreement thereto, {11) we 

 next inquire, are the "leaves palmately 3-foliolate," "palmately 5-foliolate," or 

 "pinnate?" They are palmately 3-foliolate, and our plant is now referable to the 

 1st, 2d, or 3d species. (18.) Lastly, the italicized words alone in the description of 

 these species, at once mark our plant as belonging to the first, for it is hirsute, and 

 (he sepals exceed the petals. The name is, therefore, P. NoRveqioa. 



