GENERA IN CLASS XXIII. POLYGAMIA. 115 



*>oa....Apluda....Anthistiria....Valantia....Planera....Didy- 

 Mandra....Castela....Ophioxylon....Coprosma...Celtis {nettle- 

 tree).... .Kerner a Veratrum (ivhite hellebore) ... Martinezia... 



Ceroxylon ....Trattinnickia Stalagmitis Gyrocarpus... 



Ailanthus..,Gimbernatia....Gouania (c/wWtf-S*/c£)...BttIEDELIA 

 ...ScHRANKIA...DE3MANTHUS...AcACIA...iNGA...iMlMOSA {sensitive 



and humble plant)... Br abeium... Heritiera....Hypelate...Ter- 

 minalia....Clusia...Feronia...Hermas...Parietaria (pellitory) 

 ...and Atriplex (orache). 



Order 2. Dicecia, comprehends such plants as have the poly- 

 gamy on tivo distinct plants. This order contains tiventy -eight 

 genera, viz. Panax (ginseng)... Diospyros {date plum)... Chry- 

 sitrix...Spinifex...Elephantusa...Nunnezia...Cham^erops (fan 



Jp<2/?7i)...BREYNlA...PENNANTIA...STlLBE...NYSSA...HAMlLTONIA... 



Laurophyllus...Fraxinus (ash tree)... Richeria... Isquierda... 

 Bursera... Griselinia ... Hydnocarpu s. , . Arctopus. . ..Gledit- 



SCHIA (^re<?-^Onze^ac , aC2«)...ScHLEICHERA...BROSIMUM.,.CABAL- 



leria...Lardizabala... Smegmaria... Kageneckia ...and Cera- 

 tonia (carob tree). 



Order 3. Trioecia, comprehending such plants as have the 

 polygamy on three distinct plants. This order contains one genu* 

 viz. Ficus* (the fig-tree). 



* To understand this order, the singular manner of the fructification must be ex- 

 plained. The fruit of the Ficus is not a pericarp ium f but a receptacle, the interior 

 sides of which support the flowers, which by this means are enclosed within it. 

 These flowers in the cultivated fig-trees are female only, but there is a sort known 

 by the name of Caprificus, that has male flowers, and another again culled EHiiosyCe, 

 which is androgynous, having both male and female flowers distinct, though lodged 

 within the same receptacle. Here then we have the Truscious polygamy explained; 

 and if the descriptions of de la Hire may be trusted, there are figs that contain 

 bisexual flowers ; which give us even a fourth habitation for the sexes. Thus 

 much suffices to explain the order ; but there is an objection naturally arising from 

 hence to the doctrine of the sexes j the obviating which, will furnish the opportunity 

 of a necessary remark. It will be asked, how it happens that the fruit of our fig- 

 trees ripen, if the plants are of one sex only, and have no assistance from the 

 male? The answer is this: the fruit is in all cases to be distinguished from the 

 seed contained within it : if the male be wanting, the seed will not vegetate whe* 



