3 
Ranunculaceae and Umbelliferee, or Euphorbiacese and Rhamnaceae, which are 
often scarcely distinguishable, and they break up the orders generally so very 
little, as to afford by no means so much assistance in the analysis of the sub- 
class, as is to be desired. 
For these reasons I have ventured to propose an abandonment of the old 
mode of subdivision, and the adoption of some new principles ; in particular, I 
have altogether neglected the distinctions between hypogynous and perigy- 
nous stamens, considering them practically as the same thing, except in cer- 
tain special cases, and in fact comprehending them both under the general 
term hypogynous. The presence or absence too of albumen in seeds, is 
viewed as a matter of altogether subordinate value, unless when the quantity 
of albumen is so great as to become apparently a subject of physiological im- 
portance. The new characters are derived from the parietal or central mode 
of placentation, from the syncarpous or apocarpous state of the pistil, and 
from the nature of the arrangement of the calycine leaves ; all very obvious cir- 
cumstances, and readily ascertained. The groups they give rise to are the 
following ; which in general are obviously natural, and which, I trust to be 
able to prove are so in those cases also where the close natural affinity of the 
orders collected under them is less apparent. I would only beg the reader 'to 
dismiss from his mind those prejudices which unfortunately sometimes stick 
as closely to the skirts of abstract scientific qnestions, as to other matters 
whether social or political. 
1. 9lIbumiitO0ae* Embryo very considerably shorter and smaller than the 
albumen. 
2. (IBpiepno0ae* 
3. lPaneto 0 ae. 
4. eralrco0ae* 
Ovary inferior, usually having an epigynous disk. 
Placentation parietal. 
Calyx incompletely whorled ; two of the sepals being ex- 
terior. 
5. Spncarpo0ae* None of the characters of the other groups, and with the 
carpels compactly united. 
6. (Sgnoba0eO0ac* Carpels not exceeding 5, diverging at the base, arranged in 
a single row around an elevated axis or gynobase. Sta- 
mens usually separate from the calyx. 
7. 3pocarpo0ae4 None of the characters of the other groups, but with the 
carpels distinct ; or separable by their faces ; or solitary. 
Group I. HlbummoiSfie* 
Essential Character. — The albumen very considerably larger than the embryo, and 
forming the great mass of the seed. 
The first and last parts of this group consist of a portion of De Candolle’s 
thalamiflorous cohort of Polypetalous Exogens, the central part is taken from 
out of his Calyciflorous cohort. The presence of a very considerable quantity 
of albumen seems to indicate a need, on the part of the emffiryo of these plants, 
of some efficient source of nutriment before it is able to extract its food from 
the soil ; a remarkable physiological fact, which is by no means to be con- 
founded with those instances in which a small quantity, a sort of casing, of 
albumen is left around an embryo, when it appears to be a mere residuum 
instead of a great vital deposit. Tlie former is to all* appearance of little phy- 
