322 C H A P T E R 24. 
768 fpecies. He extended Gesner's idea, 
and commenced the period of fyftematic 
arrangement. In his Libri xvi de Plan- 
tisy' publifhed 1583, he has arranged up- 
wards of 800 plants into clajfesy founded, 
after the general divifion of the trees from 
herbs, on charad:ers drawn from the fruit 
particularly, from the number of the cap- 
fules and cells ; the number, fliape, and dif- 
pofition of the feeds j and from the fituation 
of the corculumy radicle^ or eye of the feed, 
which he raifed to oreat eftimation. The 
orders^ or fubdivifions, are formed on ftill 
more various relations. 
FabmsQoi.viAY\K improved this doctrine 
of clajjificationy in 161 6, by extending it to 
the formation of genera, which C.<5esalpi- 
Nus had not effeded ^ all his fpecies being 
feparately defcribed. Columna, indeed, 
did not exhibit a fyftem ; but he £hewed the 
way to complete it, by the union of fpecies 
under one common name, from fimilarity 
in the flower, and fruit , and he invented 
feveral of the terms, now in ufe, to deno-* 
minate thofe parts. This noble invention, 
neverthelefs^ 
