NATURAL SYSTEM. 
245 
N"atural Orders : the groups are distinguished by circumstances 
of inflorescence^ as whether flowers are on a spadix^ or not spec- 
diaceous / whether with simple or double^ regula/r or irregular 
perianth ; flowers imbricated^ or with glumaceous hracts. The 
natural orders in the different groups are distinguished into 
trees or herbaceous plants / aquatic or terrestrial / anthers inr 
trorse or extrorse / glumes single or numerous. In this class we 
find the palm, the type of the natural order Palmace^e ; the 
Akace^ or Arum family, the Arum (wild turnip) being tlie 
type ; the Typhace^ or Cat-tail family ; the Okchidace^ or 
Orchis family ; the Ieidace^ or Iris family ; the Geaminace^ 
or Grass family. 
397. Seeies 11. — Flowbrless or Cryptogamous Plants. 
CLASS ni. 
AcROGENOus, riowerless Plants, propagated by spores instead 
of seeds ; these have a disti7ict axis growing from the apex, with 
woody and vascula/r tissue, and usually distinct foliage. The 
orders in this class are Equisetum (scouring-rush), type of the 
Horsetail family ; the fern, the type of the order Filices, divid- 
ed into many sub-orders ; ground-pine, or club-moss, the type 
of the order Lycopodiace^. 
CLASS IV. 
398. Anophytes — contains vegetables composed of parenchy- 
ma only ; these are of Acrogenous growth, foliage sometimes 
distinct, often confluent into a frond, as mosses, liverworts, &c. 
CLASS V. 
399. Thallophytes — contains vegetables of cellular tissue 
only, combined in a thaUus, with no distinction of root, stem, 
or foliage, no distinct axis and leaves ; the Lichens are the high- 
est order of this lowest of the vegetable series ; from these 
we descend to Mushrooms, Fungi, and to the green, shining moss 
which is found in ponds and ditches, consisting of a mere 
cellular mass, sometimes called brook-silk ; these are of the 
order Alg^. 
THE POLYPETALOUS ORDERS. 
400. Eanunculace^, th£ Crowfoot Trile. — Herbs or under- 
shrubs with an acrid watery juice. Leaves simple, alternate or 
opposite, often variously lobed and subdivided, without stipules. 
Sepals 3-6. usually 5, deciduous. Petals 5-15, sometimes 
