CONSPECTUS OF THE LINN^AN SYSTEM OF BOTANY. 83 



Order. — Monoecia. Ex. Sensitive and humble 

 plants. 



Order. — Dioeeia. Ex. Ash, fan-palm. Ohs. The 

 characters which distinguish the three last 

 named classes from each other are not always 

 constant; different plants of the same species 

 being sometimes monoecious, dioecious, or poly- 

 gamous. Androgynous is a general term ap- 

 plied to plants of these three classes. 



Class XXIV.— CRYPTOGAMIA (kryptos, con- 

 cealed, gamos, marriage). Floiverless plants, ivithout 

 visible stamens or pistils. 



Order. — Filices. Ex. The Fern family. 



N.B. See Natural famihes. 

 Order. — Musci. Ex. The Moss family. 

 Order. — Hepaticse. Ex. Marchantia and jun- 

 germannia. 



Order. — Lichens. Ex. The Lichen family. 

 Order. — Algae. Ex. The Seaweed family. 

 Order. — Fungi. Ex. The Fungus family. 



The above is a general exposition of the Linnsean 

 system, and as the meaning of the names of the classes 

 conveys to the mind their character, further explanation 

 is unnecessary. 



On beginning to study this system, the first thing is 

 for the student to make himself familiar with the names 

 and meaning of the classes and orders, which should be 

 followed up by an examination of the flowers of some of 

 the plants or others named as examples under each class. 



On becoming familiar with the classes and orders, the 

 next step is the study of genera and species, the charac- 

 ters of which being founded on special terms will be best 



g2 



