2 JPRIITCIPIA 
subdivided into several orders, and under the orders are ranked 
the respective genera f with their attendant species: The 
names of the classes and orders are chiefly derived from the 
Greek, those of the first 13 classes being expressive of the 
number of stamina or males in a flower ; and those of the 
orders, of the number of pistilla or females in a flower ; and 
the names of the other classes and orders, are also particularly 
expressive of the circuinstances attending the males or females 
of the genera under each respective class and order f 
Therefore to investigate a plant, we must first find the class 
and order to which it belongs ,% for that is the grand founda¬ 
tion of the system;. next we must find the distinction in that 
order; and then (by Linnaeus’s description) the genus or 
family >§ and afterwards the several species or relations; fox 
* In the 6 th edition of Linnaeus's Genera Plantaruni are described 1239 genera, 
■which have since been augmented to 1444.—See the 13th edition of the Systerna 
Fegetabilium. To which a few more are added irt the 14th edition.—And underthe 
Classes. 
1 Monandria.. .. , 
Classes . 
10 Decandfia .. . 
. 511 
Classes • 
19 Syngenesia .... 
o Tlinufiri/i * . 
31 Dodecandria . 
. 164 
20 Gynandria.. V . .. 
3 Triandria .. .. 
12 Icosandiia ,. . 
. 293 
21 Monoecia ...... 
4 Tetrandria .. .. 
13 Polyandria .. . 
, 330 
22 Dioeeia .... *. *. 
5 Pentandria.. ., , 
3 4 Didynamia .. . 
. 040 
23 Potygamia.. .... 
6 Hexandria.. .. , 
15 Tetradynamia * 
. 280 
24 Cfyptogamia.. 
7 Heptandria. 
10 
10 Monadelphia . 
C 252 
Appendix .. .. 
8 Octandria. 
17 Diadelphia ... 
. 697 
Total .. 
9 Enneandria .. . 
28 
18 Polyadelphia . 
. 65 
. 1165 
By this table it appears that, in the vegetable system, nature seems most to de¬ 
light in the number 5 ; see the classes pentandtia and syngenesis, &c. 
.(.Dr. DarWin thinks that if all the classes of plants had been distinguished by 
the proportion, situation, and disposition of the stamina, along with the number, 
the arrangement would have been more natural, than by number alone; as being 
less liable to variation ; and he gives several examples.—Many of the orders also 
he thinks would admit of more plain essential characters (added to the present dis¬ 
tinction) from the proportion and length of the style, compared with the stamina, 
and from several other peculiar circumstances attending the style and stigma; 
several examples of which are given, and by which a plant would be more easily 
found, and the orders be more natural. Phytologia . 
+ The class and order of any plant may generally be found by the explanation 
of the classes and orders. 
§ The word genus , in natural history, aptly compared to & family, with refer¬ 
ence to some higher distinction ; it is only an abstract idea expressed by some 
general name or term, comprehending a greater or less number of species or 
relations, bearing the same sir-name, as resembling each other in certain estab¬ 
lished characters, or at least in some essential parts; though distinguished by 
different specific names. 
