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SYSTEM OF LINNAEUS. 
been laid before you, in the views of artificial classes and or- 
ders.* This system not only includes within it all known plants, 
but is founded on such principles as must comprehend within it 
whatever plants may yet be discovered. The author of this 
system believed that no plant was destitute of stamens and pis- 
tils : but at the same time, that there were species in which 
these organs were so small, so obscure, or of such a singular 
formation as to render it difficult, and sometimes impossible to 
be certain of their existence, except by the principle of analogy. 
Therefore, he made the two grand divisions of plants Pheno- 
gamous, such as have stamens and pistils visible, and crypto- 
gamous , stamens and pistils invisible .+ 
The following comparison has been very properly given by 
Botanists, as an illustration of the divisions in the system of 
Linnaeus. 
Classes are compared to States. 
Orders, to Towns. 
Genera, to Families. 
Species, to Individuals. 
You must not forget while considering this system, that plants 
themselves are the only real substances ; species, genus, order 
and class, are mere abstract terms, denoting certain distinctions 
which would equally have existed, although we had never ob- 
served them, or given them names. 
An Individual is an organized being, complete in its parts, dis- 
tinct and separate from all other beings. An oak, a rose, and 
a moss, are each of them individuals of the vegetable kingdom. 
Species include such individuals as agree in certain circum- 
stances of the roots, stems, leaves and inflorescence. We have 
no reason to suppose that any new species, either of animals or 
vegetables, have been produced since the creation. We some- 
times see varieties in plants made by cultivation ; the stamens 
and pistils, from excess of nourishment, expanding into petals. 
Varieties are also occasioned by strewing the pollen from one 
species, upon the stigma of another ; but these varieties do not 
produce perfect seed, and therefore cannot reproduce themselves 
by their seed. The colour, taste and size, are not considered as 
marks of specific difference. 
terns of Physiology. Method is not confined to the consideration of one 
character, it employs all such as are conspicuous and invariable ; this is 
called the Natural Method, and system is called the Artificial Method. Lin- 
naeus published his system of Botany in 1734, nearly half a century after 
Tournefort. 
* See part I. page, 23. 
t Mirbel believes there arc some plants absolutely destitute of stamens 
and pistils ; these he calls agamous. 
System of Linntcus provides for the classification of such plants as are 
yet to be discovered — Illustrations of its divisions — Individual — Species. 
