104 
HOW PLANTS ARE CLASSIFIED AND STUDIED. 
cut.” This brings you to the name of the genus, — in Latin or scientific form, 
Caltha ; in English, Marsh-Marigold. Being the only species, we need go no 
farther with it. 
325. On reflection and comparison, you will perceive the family likeness between 
the Marsh-Marigold and the Crowfoot, different as they are in some particulars; 
and between these and the Globe-flower, the Gold-thread, the Anemony, and even 
the Larkspur and Aconite, when you have studied these plants. But the family 
likeness is not quite so strong at first view in this family as it is in most others. 
326. Another example we will take from the plant figured on p. 5 and the fol¬ 
lowing pages (Fig. 4-19), a very common ornamental twiner about houses, flow¬ 
ering all through the summer. Begin, as before, on p. 105. You perceive at once 
that the plant belongs to Class L-; for it has netted-veined leaves, the parts of the 
flower are in fives, and the embryo (which is easily extracted from the fresh seed, 
Fig. 16-19) has a pair of seed-leaves. There is a regular pistil, and the seeds in 
a pod; so the plant belongs to Subclass I. There is both calyx and corolla, the latter 
of one piece ; so the plant belongs to the Monopetalous division, p. 109. The corolla 
is borne on the receptacle below the ovary; so you pass to the head B. The sta¬ 
mens are just as many as the lobes, or rather here the plaits, of the corolla; so you 
pass No. 1, and take No. 2. The stamens stand before the plaits, so that they would 
be alternate with the divisions of the corolla, if it were not that the five petals it 
consists of are united to the very top; so you take the second of the two lines com¬ 
mencing with the word “ Stamens.” These are “ inserted on the corolla,” and are 
entirely separate and “ free from the stigma ”; so you take the fourth line of those 
in the next rank. There is a style (p. 110) ; so the plant falls under the second of 
the two lines of the next rank. The ovary and pod have 3 cells; so it falls under 
the third of the lines beginning with the word “ Ovary.” The stamens are 5, and 
the pod few-seeded (2 seeds in each cell) ; so it falls under the third of the lines 
beginning with “ Stamens.” The plant twines, and the seeds are large; so you are 
brought to the name of the family, the Convolvulus Family, and are referred to 
p. 3 84. Read over the marks of the family, and then search for the gerlus in the 
key or arrangement; and you will find that the name of the genus is, in scientific 
language, Ipomcea , in popular English, Morning-Glory. 
327. One more example, to show how plants are to be studied by the Flora, will 
be sufficient. Take the Lily of the Valley (Fig. 3 on p. 1), which in this country 
adorns almost every flower-garden. 
