226 
COMPARISON OP THE TWO SYSTEMS OF BOTANY. 
. length, each parcel about twenty in number. The number and positions of these 
stamens directed the attention to Class 18, Order 2, Polyadelphia Polyandria, of 
Linnaeus. The Corolla was pale-red, verging to orange ; and referring to Loudon's 
Enc. of Plants, this circumstance alone threw a doubt on the plant being a Loasa ; 
for, as the list contained only four species, viz. L. Placet, nitida, voliibilis, and 
grandiflora, all of them with yellow flowers, it became pretty certain that the 
specimen must be one of recent introduction. 
In the last edition of Dr. Lindley's " Natural System of Botany," p. 3, we 
find Order 35, Loasaceae. " Essential character. Calym superior or inferior, 
5-parted, persistent, spreading in aestivation. Petals 5 or 10, arising from the 
recesses of the calyx, cucullate, with an inflexed, valvate aestivation ; the inferior 
often, when present, much smaller than the outer, and truncate at the apex. 
Stamens indefinite, in several rows, arising from within the petals, either distinct 
or adhering in bundles before each petal, within the cavity of which they lie in 
aestivation ; filaments subulate, unequal, the outer ones frequently destitute of 
anthers. Ovary inferior, or nearly superior, 1 -celled, with parietal placentae, or 
with 1 free central lobed one. Style single. Stigma 1-or several. Fruit capsular 
or succulent, inferior or superior, 1 -celled, with parietal placentae originating at 
the sutures. Seeds numerous, without arillus ; embryo lying in the axis of fleshy 
albumen, with the radicle pointing to the hilum, and flat, small cotyledons. 
Herbaceous plants, hispid, with pungent hairs secreting an acrid juice. Leaves 
opposite or alternate, without stipules, usually more or less divided. Peduncles 
axillary, 1 -flowered." 
Viewing every part of the flower and plant now under consideration, the 
texture of calyx and corolla, their arrangement, the position of the pistillum, the 
succulent climbing stems, divided lax- leaves, and the prickly armature of every 
portion of the herbage — the pungency of which becomes evident on the slightest 
touch — we lean to the opinion expressed by Dr. Lindley, that herein it approaches 
to a plant of Cucurbitacew, (the Gourd tribe,) and that " this is the order with 
which, upon the whole, Loasaeew must be considered to have the closest affinity." 
The student in botany ought to be fully aware, that the Orders of the Natural 
System represent, or rather take the place of, the Classes of the Linnsean artificial 
classification. Loasaceae is a class then, and comprises, at present, eleven genera 
or families. Viz : — 
Klaprothia, 
Mentzelia, 
Petalanthera, 
Acrolasia, 
Loasa (the type), 
Caiophora, 
Blumenbachia, 
Bartonia, 
Gronovia, 
Grammatocarpos, 
and 
Scyphanthus. 
In the Linnaean arrangement some leading character can be seized, by which 
the labour of research may be lightened ; but by what chance could a youthful 
enquirer be led to refer to the order Loasaceae at all ? What could suggest the idea of 
it ? True it is that were the Essential Characters engrafted in his memory, half 
the work would be done ; but what memory is equal to the task of grasping, 
