REMARKS ON THE ORDER COMBRETACE^. 
209 
that it belongs to the first tribe, Angiospermeos, this terra being- used to designate 
all plants whose seeds are provided with a covering- or seed-vessel^ this covering or 
seed-vessel being called a pericarpium. If the seed had not been so enclosed, the 
order would have been placed by the side of those brought under the second tribe, 
GymnospermiiE. Here another perplexity is presented to the inquiring mind, for 
as yet it appears that we have adduced nothing that can lead to a ready acquaintance 
with the situation of this order in the natural arrangenaent — the truth is, after what 
has been said, the inquirer who has attentively followed in the track we have 
so indifferently beaten out, must see much encouragement to persevere in the 
acquirement of an extended acquaintance with this amusing and profitable pursuit — 
but to stop here would be unkind indeed ; our next aim is to come more close and 
direct to the subject. After what we have advanced to show that this order makes 
one of the many in the first great class Vasculares, or flowering plants, and belongs 
to the first subclass Exogence^ or dicotyledonous plants ; and by its seed being 
enclosed in a pericarpium, to the first tribe Angiospermice ; we shall be able to trace 
the remaining- portion of our task by the simple dissection of a single flower. The 
first question is, whether the flower has distinct petals ; and finding it to be the case, 
we learn that it is polypetalous, and placed under the head PolypetalecE. Next we 
turn our attention to the stamens, for the purpose of observing the situation of 
these parts ; are they hypogynous ? — that is, situated below or adhering to the 
ovarium — and finding they do not accord with either of these, we satisfy ourselves 
that we cannot find this order under the head Thalamijlora. Our next step then 
will be whether the stamens are perigynous, that is to say, are they inserted in the 
calyx, or in the disk of the calyx ; finding them according to the latter, leads us 
with certainty to look for the term Calyciflora, (referring to the stamens being 
placed on the calyx, and compounded from calyx and Jlos). We might add more 
still : from what has been advanced, it is hoped the anxious reader will be able, 
upon procuring and examining a flower and afterwards the fruit of any of the species 
in this order, to ascertain correctly to what portion of the natural arrangement it 
belongs, and not only the constituents of this one order, but any other bearing the 
same essential difl'erences. Having acquired thus much, he will at once see the grand 
aim and noble object of the natural system, which will create a thirst for a more 
minute acquaintance, that can only be satiated by frequent investigation and the 
application of the difi"erent parts of a flower to the characters given of them in the 
work noticed at the commencement of this article, and another by the same author, 
viz. Ladies' Sotany. These works are at once instructive and pleasing, and possess 
many advantages, particularly to those desirous of making the natural system of 
botany their study. 
Having given, we hope, such a view of the situation of the order as will enable 
our readers to know its proper place, we shall next endeavour to advance something 
we trust equally profitable on the plants contained in it. The order contains, 
excepting Combretum, upwards of twelve genera ; these comprise a good number of 
species, some of which, as the Quisqualis Indica, are among the most splendid of our 
climbing plants, and in the tropics are said to adorn the trees from which their 
tvviningly disposed branches hang, with garlands of white, crimson, and yellow 
VOL. III. NO. XXXIII. E E 
