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variety obferved in their number of ftamefiS* 
Linneus found it neceffary to arrange them 
tinder different heads, as may be feen in the 
Syftem of Vegetables. Thefe divifions being 
chiefly regulated by the variation in the num- 
ber 4 of ftamens, could not but perplex the 
young botanift, from being in dire& contra- 
diction to the chafa&er of the order under 
which they were primarily affefnbled. L'He~ 
ritier's new arrangement of the geranium 
tribe has removed thefe difficulties, and added 
great improvement to the Monadelphia clafs. 
He has divided the fafnily into three diftinft 
genera, Erodium, Pelargonium!, and Gera^ 
nium ; the names Erodium and Pelargonium 
fignifying heron's bill and ftork's bill, as Ge- 
ranium fignifies crane's bill. Erodium in-* 
eludes Liniteus's divifion with five perfect 
anther-bearing ftamens ; Pelargoniurri thofe 
with feven anther-bearing ftamens ; and Ge- 
ranium thofe with ten. It is doubted whether 
the genus Geranium may, with ftricl: pro-^ 
priety, be claffed with the flowers of one- 1 
brotherhood, as it has not it's ftamens decidedly 
united at their bafe ; at prefent it remains in 
the clafs to which Linneus referred it, and 
probably will be continued there, as the ap- 
pearance 
