SECTION 11. 
NATURAL ORDERS. 
The following arrangement of Natural Orders, is that of Jiissieu, as approv- 
ed by Mirbel, and adopted at the Jardin Des Plantes at Paris. Many of the 
subdivisions of Brown, De Candolle, and Lindley, are noticed under their proper 
heads. These orders are introduced that the student, by reference to them in 
the analysis of plants, may gain general ideas of the agreements which exist 
among the different vegetable tribes. The author would recommend to teach- 
ers, to give the advanced pupil these orders as an exercise for occasional recita^- 
tions, dwelling chiefly on the most important divisions. 
Class I. Acotyledons. 
Embryo destitute of cotijledons, and a separate albumen. 
1. Fungi, or Mushroom-like plants. These are either parasitical, orspringfrom 
the ground naked or enclosed in a volva. The substance of mushrooms is 
fleshy, fungous, or mucilaginous. They are round or flat; some have sl pileus^ 
(signifying hat.) They have neither leaves nor flowers. Instead of anthers, 
they have a scattered, external or internal powder. Instead of pistils they have 
organs, which resemble thin plates, wrinkles, pores, tubes, &c. In these organs 
exists a substance analogous to seeds, called sporules, which germinates and re- 
produces the species. The different species of fungi are known by the common 
names of toad-stool, pufif-ball, &c. The medicinal qualities of this order are, 
tonic when diy, narcotic when juicy. Some are eatable, others poisonous. 
2. Muscr. Moss-like plants. These are little herbaceous plants, often resem- 
bling trees in miniature. They grow in humid situations, and are found in the 
most northern latitudes which are known to produce vegetation. They resem- 
ble the Hepaticse in their general appearance, but the latter are destitute of tho 
aperculum or lid which covers the seed vessel of the mosses. 
3. ALGiE. Sea-weed-like plants. Aquatic; differently coloured, herbaceous, car- 
tilaginous or membranous; seeds contained in conceptacles, or in the substance 
of the plant. These plants are found both in salt waters, and in ponds, ditches 
and rivers. They are often mere tufts of fine filaments. Examples : Sea-rock 
weed, Fucus, and Conferva. (Plate 8. Figs. 8, 9, 10.) 
4. Lichens.* Seldom vegetating on the earth, sometimes upon living plants, 
as leaves and bark, often upon stone and dead wood; sometimes pulverulent, 
dry, or coriaceous ; sometimes thick, woody, or fungous. Colour various. In 
dry places. Some used in dying; some, food for the arctic rein-deer. 
5. FiLi'cEs.t Fern-like plants. Roots fibrous, leaves radical, circinate when 
young. Capsules collected in clusters {sori) upon the frond or leaf. Examples : 
Common fern, scouring rush, &.e. 
6. HEPAT^'icaE. Liverwort plants. Succulent ; some grow in earth, some in wa- 
ter, and others are parasites. Resemble the mosses in their general appearance. 
7. Naia'des.$ Duck-meat Tribe. Floating plants with very cellular stems, 
and leaves scarcely to be distinguished. Astringent. 
Class II. Monocotyledons. 
Stamens hypogynous (below the germ.) Embryo with one cotyledon. The characters of this 
class are : — stamen inferior ; calyx inferior, whenpresent ; stamen seldom indefinite ; leaves 
mostly alternate and sheathing. 
8. Aroi'de^e. The Arum tribe. Inflorescence a spadix, surrounded by a 
spatha. Leaves peiioled, sheathing at the base with parallel or branching veins. 
Roots often tuberous. Properties: acrid and heating. Examples: Wild-turnip 
and Calla. 
9. TY'-piim. Cat-tail tribe. Growing in marshes or ditches. Leaves rigid, 
ensiform, with parallel veins. (See Plate 1. Fig, 6.) 
10. Ciperoi'de^:. Sedge-grass tribe. Stem herbaceous, simple. Leaves 
grass-like. Petiole sheathing. Flowers glume-like, in spikes. Roots fibrous. 
* Mirbel makes of this order a division called Hypoxylece. 
t Mirbel makes of this order a division called Lycopodiaceed. 
t The PisiiacecE of Lindley 
