10 
PRELIMINARY TREATISE. 
described as consisting of unsymmetrical flowers, yet there 
are others unsymmetrical in the third. The view of the 
whole is therefore confused, and no true division is made. 
But this may be reduced to a lucid order. Supposing the 
number of carpels to be of high importance, concerning 
which I do not wish to give any opinion, the first division* 
would be Aggyrosse or rather Monocarposae, i.e. of one 
carpel; 2. Dicarposge, of two carpels; 3. Polycarposae, of 
three or more carpels. Each of those divisions may then be 
divided into symmetrical and unsymmetrical as to the flower ; 
and those divisions again into epigynous and its opposite 
hypogynous. There is a like confusion at the outset, where 
vegetables are divided improperly into five primary classes. 
1. Outgrowing, witli reference to the mode of increasing 
their bulk by outward deposits. 2. Naked-seeded, which 
are also outgrowing. 3. Ingrowing, or increasing their 
bulk inwardly. 4. Root-flowering, which are not stated 
whether to be outgrowing or ingrowing. 5. Top-growing. 
Of these the two first are dicotyledonous, having two seed- 
lobes, the third monocotyledonous, having one, and the 
fifth acotyledonous, having none. The four first of these 
are sexual, and the last sexless or rather sex not apparent. 
The first real division is Sexual and Sex not apparent. 
The next division of sexual is Acotyledonous, which takes 
his whole fourth class, Monocotyledonous, which takes the 
third, and Dicotyledonous, which covers the first and second ; 
and dicotyledonous may be then, if it be thought fit, divided 
into Naked-seeded and Close-seeded. If Dr. Lindley will 
apply his extensive knowledge and correct judgment to 
elucidate the system in this manner, he will place it on a 
satisfactory and permanent footing, being careful however 
not to let any feature rank above those which should pre- 
cede it. I believe him (as well as that distinguished con- 
tinental botanist Monsieur Decandolle) to have a mind much 
above the narrow wish of adhering to any thing because 
he has published it, or rejecting any thing because it 
is suggested by one like myself, of very inferior botanical 
* In the second edition of Dr. Lindley's Natural System of Botany these 
divisions are altered to, 1. Polycarpous. 2. Epigynous. 3. Monocarpous. 4. 
Nucamentaceous. 5. Dicarpous. The real arrangement should be (supposing 
the points assumed to be the most valuable that could be found). 1. One- 
carpelled. 2. Two-carpelled ; a. capsular, b. nucamentaceous. 3. Many- 
carpelled ; a. hypogynous. b. epigynous. 
