SYNOPSIS OF THE NATURAL ORDERS. 



The plan adopted for presenting the^ diagnoses of the Natural 

 Orders represented in this Flora follows very closely Sir Joseph 

 Hooker's arrangement <;iven in Vol. V (Append. I. B.) of Trimen's 

 " Flora of Ceylon." As this synopsis is intended to seiTe as a key ta 

 the Orders represented in this local Flora, I have omitted many special 

 characters belonging to genera which are not likely to be met with 

 within the area, A few of the more important exceptional characters 

 will be found under the different classes, divisions, sub-divisions and 

 natui'al orders in which they occm\ 



The following tabulated list of the larger and more important groups 

 of Flowering Plants is given so as to bring into focus the general 

 plan of the classification of the Natural Orders : — 



Class I. DICOTYLEDONS. 

 Division I. Polypetalse. 



Sub-division 1. Thalamiflorse. 



(Orders Eanunculacese— Tiliaceas.) 



Sub -division 2. Disciflorae. 



(Orders Linese — Moringe«.) 

 SuB'DivisiON 3. Calyoiflorse. 



(Orders Leguminosse — Cornaceae.) 



Division II. Gampetcialse 



(Orders Rubiaceae — Plantaginese.) 



Division III. MonocWamyde^. 



(Orders Nyctaginacese— Ceratophyllacese.) 



Class II. GYIVINOSPERMS. (Order Coniferae.) 



Class III. MONOCOTYLEDONS. 

 Division I. Petaloideoe. 



(Orders Hydrocharideae — Naiadacese.) 

 Division IL Glumiferse. 



(Orders Eriocaulone£e— Gramineae.) 



