46 DOCTRINE OF THE SEXES OF PLANTS. 



CHAP. XXL 



OF THE SEXES IN PLANTS. 



THE distinction of flowers into male, female, bisexual, and 

 neuter, has been already explained in Chap. IV. To which 

 we must add, that bisexual flowers are sometimes distinguish- 

 able into male and female bisexual : this is, when, although the 

 flower contains the parts belonging to each sex, one of them 

 proves abortive or ineffectual ; if the defect be in the staminu, 

 it is a female bisexual; if in the pistillum, a male one. The case 

 wherein this distinction becomes necessary, happens very rarely. 

 It will be shown in the course of this chapter. 



Plants, in respect to sex, take their denominations from the 

 sex of their flowers, in the manner following : 



1 . Bisexual plants are such as upon the same root bear 

 flowers, that are all composed of the two sexes in the same co~ 

 rolla, as in most genera. 



2. Androgynous, male and female, such as upon the same 

 root bear both male and female flowers, as in the class Mo- 

 ncecia*. 



3. Male, such as upon the same root bear male flowers only, 

 as in the class Diceciaf. 



4. Female, such as upon the same root bear female flowers 

 only, as in the class Dioecia. 



\ 



See Part II. Chap. XXIV. 



f See Part II. Chap. XXV, 



