112 
therefore, be a dynamic system”. The same is true as to the system of the genera 
ina family. This is very clearly seen in larger families such as the Gramines, 
Rosacesw, Saxifragaces, and others. In the Graminex especially, the genera 
never stand in a serial relation. There are, perhaps, not two tribes which 
can be sufficiently distinguished one from the other by a single characteristic. It 
is by a combination of several characteristics, that they are usually divided. 
Of all the tribes of the Graminex limited by the authors of both ancient and 
modern times, none is said to have been exactly differentiated from the others”. 
But, on the contrary, they are closely inter-related and share different charac- 
teristics among themselves. Accordingly, they, tribes as well as genera, change 
their limitations and members in accordance with different views. Their system 
must, therefore, necessarily be a changeable one. The same is true as to the 
species belonging to a large genus. They always stand in an inter-relation, but 
not in serial relatior. Such a system of treating and denoting inter-relations in 
the dynamic views of species, genera or families, I propose to call the dynamic 
system in the natural classification of plants. Although the same system can be 
applied to the whole vegetable kingdom, I shall, in the present paper, limit myself 
to the Angiospermz which group is more familiar to me than other groups. 
Those who insist upon the view that the natural system should be a 
static one and that, therefore, only one real system is possible still believe the 
evolution theory in the sense that, while species have been serially developed, 
they have always retained diverse in their characters. On the other hand, 
those who think that it is not always necessary that species should be developed 
serially or invariably exhibit divergent characters ; and who also beleve that” 
Species are not only able of themselves to turn out different species through 
1) I desire to call my readers’ attention to the fact that the statements about the dynamic 
system are to be held only in the case of a comparison of members (plants) which should all 
belong to the same group or should all belong to different groups of the same rank. The state- 
ments are not to be applied in the case of « comparison of members, some of which belong to 
the same group, while others belong to different groups. In the latter case, the relations of the 
members belonging to the same group are less dynamic than those of members belonging to 
different groups, For example, in comparing the plum, cherry, and cucumber, we see that the 
relations between the former two are always more close (or less dynamic) than those between 
either of the former two and the cucumber, even though we consider them from every different 
point of view. 
2) Nat. Pfl-fom. IL—2, p. 16. 
3) Werrsrem, R. R.— Handbuch der Systematischen Botanik, p. 49. 
