CONSPECTUS OF THE NATURAL SYSTEM. 



87 



continued to be permanent characters in all succeeding 

 natural arrangements. This system was patronized in 

 France, and was adopted by the celebrated botanist, M. 

 De Candolle, who in 1819 published his amended Ele- 

 mentary Theory of Botany," in which he classified flower- 

 ing plants under 150 natural families. But Dr. Lindley, 

 in his "Vegetable Kingdom," 1846, has, by separating 

 genera from these orders, increased the number to 303, 

 which he forms into 56 groups called alliances, the cha- 

 racters of which with those of the families are founded on 

 a general view of the whole of the organisms of plants, 

 which will be best understood by quoting an example. 



"Alliance XXXII. The Kanal Alliance. 



Hypogynous Exogens, ivith monodichlamydeous 

 floivers, sutured or ax'ile placenta, numerous stamens, 

 and a minute embryo enclosed in a large quantity of 

 fleshy or horny albumen. 



Order, Eanunculacea. 



" Herbs, or rarely shrubs. Leaves alternate or opposite, 

 generally much divided, with the petiole dilated and 

 forming a sheath half clasping the stem. Stipule-like 

 processes occasionally present. Hairs (if any), simple. 

 Inflorescence variable. Flowers usually conspicuous ; 

 if apetalous, then with the sepals large and gaily coloured. 

 Sepals 3 — 6, hypogynous, deciduous, generally imbri- 

 cate in aestivation, occasionally valvate or duplicate. 

 Petals 3 — 15, hypogynous, in one or more rows, distinct, 

 sometimes deformed, in some cases missing. Stamens 

 (very rarely definite), hypogynous; anthers adnate. 

 Carpels numerous, 1-celled or united into a single many- 

 celled pistil ; ovary one or more seeded, the ovules sutu- 



