( P ) 
than from any of the various circuitous ways 
which have been made ufe of to level the 
fubjecl: to the capacity of ladies. Twenty 
years ago an en glim botanift, defirous to be 
acquainted with the fcience, might with rea- 
fon complain of the hardnefs of the ftudy ; 
but at this enlightened period knowledge is 
fo widely diffufed, that there are few fituations 
where books, with plates of explanation, are 
not to be met with, or fome friend to be had 
accefs to, who is both able and willing to 
elucidate any obfcure expreffion which may 
occur. 
But to proceed with the Claffes, the ten 
firft of which are reprefented in Plate the 
Fourth, and are diftinguifhed by the number 
of their ftamens only ; the eleventh clafs is 
called dodecandria, which fignifies twelve- 
ftamens. The reafon of paffing from ten to 
twelve is, that the number eleven has not 
been found fufficiently conftant in any 
flowers to form a Clafs. In the genus refeda 
eleven ftamens are fometimes found, but 
oftener more ; yet they never exceed fifteen. 
The effential character of the eleventh Clafs 
depends on the flowers belonging to it having 
fewer than eleven ftamens, and not exceeding 
nineteen : 
