( ) 
fpecific character. However, it muft be ac- 
knowledged, that in contradiction to more 
than one of his own rules, Linneus has made 
ufe of colour, and other variable properties in 
plants, to diflinguifh them individually one 
from another. Linneus efteemed the root of 
plants a true fpecific mark ; but, from the dif- 
ficulty of obtaining a fight of it, has never 
made ufe of that part as fuch, if any other, 
equally permanent and more obvious, could 
be found. The trunk and {talks of vegeta- 
bles, in many inftances, afford fuch effential 
differences, that they ferve to afcertain the 
fpecies beyond a doubt. In the genus hype- 
ricum, three of the fpecies are accurately 
diftinguifhed by their items being round, 
two-edged, and fquare. The different kinds of 
inflorefcence and fulcra furnifh alfo permanent 
marks. Linneus too has made ufe of parts 
of the fructification for the purpofe of difcri- 
minating the fpecies, which is done with good 
effect in many inftances, though certainly in 
a few cafes, in contradiction to the principle, 
on which the claffes are founded, if con-> 
fidered with ftrictnefs, as in fome of the 
graffes ; but where the characteristic mark 
of either clafs or order is not interfered 
Q 4 with, 
