ORCHIS PLANTS. 
1C5 
Class 4. 
Monocotyledons , stamens epigynous, (above the germ.) Orchis 
plants, (Or chides.) This family is distinguished by having 
for stamens only glutinous masses of pollen, sometimes sessile 
and sometimes supported by short filaments. The root has 
usually two knobs. In this family are the Orchis genus, from 
which it takes its name ; the genus Cypripedium or lady’s-slip- 
per, which takes its name from its large nectary resembling a 
shoe ; the Cymbidium or blue-eyed grass, &c. 
Class 5. 
Dicotyledons, without petals and, with stamens epigynous , 
(above the germ.) The characters of this class are a calyx supe- 
rior and of one leaf, and corolla wanting. It contains but one 
family Aristolochice. 
Class 6. 
Dicotyledons, without petals, stamens perigynous, (around 
the germ.) 
We have in this class the family Prote.e, so named from 
Proteus, a fabulous deity who was remarkable for his transform- 
ations ; these flowers being variable in their characteristics. 
We find in this class the family Lauri which contains the genus 
Laurus. The family Polygonece is chiefly important as con- 
taining the genus Polygonum ; the name of this genus is deri- 
ved from the Greek polus, many, added to gonu, knot, signify- 
ing many knots, in allusion to its knotted stems. 
Clas3 7. 
Dicotyledons, without petals, stamens hypogenous, (beneath 
the germ.) 
The most important characters of this class are a calyx infe- 
rior ; scarcely any corolla, though some have scales resembling 
petals which bear the stamens and are alternate with them. In 
this class we find the family Amaranthi, deriving its name from 
the genus amaranthus, which has its flowers growing in a spike. 
Class fourth — Monocotyledons, stamens epigynous — Orchides — Class fifth 
— Dicotyledons — Without petals, stamens perigynous — Protore — Lauri — 
Polygoneae — Class 7th — Dicotyledons — Without petals, stamens hypogy- 
nous — Amaranthi. 
