CHARACTERS USED IN CLASSIFICATION. 
1G1 
agree in having their leaves opposite, and yet there is no resem- 
blance in their flowers. This consideration alone, would 
seem sufficient for establishing the superior importance of 
the characters, of reproduction over those of vegetation. 
The seed unites in itself; the characters both of reproduc- 
tion and vegetation. The embryo is the commencement of 
the new plant, and it offers us the first characters of vege- 
tation ; but its situation in the fruit, the number, form and 
consistence of its envelope are characters which belong to 
fructification. 
As far as possible, in separating or bringing together 
plants, we should make use of prominent characters which 
the eye can see, without the help of the microscope ; but if 
experience teaches us that the characters most constant and 
proper for the explanation of physiological phenomena can 
only be discovered by such aid, it is necessary to resort to 
this instrument, in order to establish the natural relations 
of plants.* 
Having considered the meaning of individual, species , genus 
and family , and of the characteristics by which the three 
parts are grouped together, let us take a general view of this 
subject. 
It is evident by the formation of species, genera and families, 
that every species should offer the essential characters of the 
family and genus to which it belongs ; while the marks which 
distinguish this species from another species of its genus, will 
be such as do not belong to the whole genus or family. The dif- 
ferent genera in families are also distinguished by characters 
which do not belong to the whole family ; every individual, 
then will possess its specific character, its generic character , 
and its family character. 
The specific character' is less important than the generic, as 
it is mostly founded on the characters of the organs of vegeta- 
tion, which we have seen are isolated and less important than 
the coexistent characters. We often find in the analysis of plants 
a great difficulty in determining their species, from the want of 
more definite marks of distinction. 
Generic characters are mostly of the coexistent kind, and are 
more valuable than the specific characters. The distinctions of 
genera are usually much more apparent than those of species ; 
* The rules and observations respecting characters for classification, are 
translated from Mirbels 11 Elemens dc But unique.” 
Characters of reproduction more important than those of vegetation — Ap - 
plication of characteristics — General view of the subject — 
14 * 
