z? 2 B O T 
in the ftamens is not always very obvious, and efpecially 
as the plants of the Hexandria clafs have none of them 
four petals. The orders are two, and are diftinguithed by 
the figure of the feed-veifel, which, in the full order is a 
broad and globular pod ; that is, a roundifh flat l'eed-vef- 
fel, furniflied with a fly 1c, which is frequently as long as 
tire feed-vefl'el itfelf. In the fccond order, the feed-vef- 
fel is a filiqua, or long pod ; that is, a very long feed-vef- 
iel, without any remarkable ftyle. The plants of this 
clafs alfo admit of the following diftinguifiling 
Natural Character. 
Calyx : A perianthium tetraphyllous and oblong; the 
leaves of which are ovate-oblong, concave, obtufe, con¬ 
niving, gibbous downwards at the bafe, the oppolite ones 
.equal and deciduous. The calyx in thefe flowers Contains 
the nedtarium ; which isthereafon of the bafe being gibbous. 
Corolla : Cruciform, or crofs-fhaped. Four equal 
petals-. The claws plane-fubulate, eredt, and fomewhat 
longer than the calyx. The limbs plane, widening out¬ 
wards, obtufe, the Tides hardly touching one another. The 
infertion of the petals is in the fame circle with the (lamina. 
Nectarium : Nectariferous glands, which differ in 
different genera, grow near the ftamens, and are moftly 
fixed at the bafe of the fliorter filaments, which are gene¬ 
rally bent outwards, to prevent the compreflion of the 
glands, and dierefore appear fliorter than the others. 
Stamina : The filaments fix, fubulate; of which two 
that are oppofite are of the length of the calyx ; the other 
four fomewhat longer, but not fo long as the corolla. The 
antherae oblong, acuminate, thicker at the bafe, erect, and 
with their tops leaning outwards. 
Pistillum : The germen above the receptacle, con- 
flantly increafingin height. The fiyle either of the length 
of the longer flamina, or wanting. The fligma obtufe. 
Pericarpium : A filiqua or pod, of two valves, often 
bilocular, opening from the bafe to the top. The difle- 
piment projecting at the top beyond the valves, the pro¬ 
minent part thereof having before ferved as a fiyle. 
Seeds : Roundifli, inclining downwards, alternately 
plunged lengthwjf'e into the dilfepiment. The receptacle 
linear, furrounding the diflepiment, and immerfed in the 
futures of the pericarpium.—This clafs is truly natural, 
and has been aliitmed as fuch by all the bed; fyftematic w'ri- 
ters; neverthelefs, they have throwm into it one or more ge¬ 
nera that do not naturally belong to it; Linnaeus thinks he 
has given no wrong one, unlefs it be Cieome. The plants 
of this clafs are univerfally called antifcorbutic, their tafte 
is acrid and watery ; they lofe mod of their virtues by dry¬ 
ing. None of them are poifonous. In moift fituations, 
and wet feafons, they are moft acrimonious. Thus the 
Cocliisaria armoracia, horfe-radifh, growing near water, is 
fo very acrid, that it can hardly be tiled ; and Bralflca rapa, 
the turnep, whole root in a dry fandy foil is fo fucculent 
and tweet, in wet fliff lands is hard and acrimonious. 
Order i. Siliculosa, comprehending tltofe plants 
whofe pericarpium is a Jilicula or fhort globular pod. This 
order contains fourteen genera, viz. Myagrum, gold of 
pleafure; Vella, Spanilh crefs; Anaftatica, rofe of Jericho ; 
Subularia, awd-wort, or rough-leaved alyflon ; Draba, 
whitlow-gfafs; Lepidium, dittander, or pepper-wort; 
Thlafpi, mithridate muftard ; Cochlearia, fcurvy-grafs, 
or fpoon-wort; Iberis, candy-tuft, or fciatic crefs; Alyf- 
fuin, mad-wort; Peltaria ; Clypeola, treacle-muftard ; Bif- 
cutella, buckler-muflard ; and Lunaria, inoon-wort, fattin- 
flower, or honefly. 
Order 2. Siliqjtosa, comprehending thofe plants whofe 
pericarpium is ajiliqua or long pod. This order contains 
eighteen genera, viz. Ricotia; Dentaria, tooth-wort; Car- 
daniine, lady’s-fmock ; SLfymbrium, water-crefs ; Eryfi- 
mum, hedge-muftard ; Cheiranthus, flock July-flower ; 
Heliophila; Hefperis, dame’s violet, or queen’s July-flow- 
*r ; Arabis, bafe tovver-nniftard ; Turritis, tower-mu(fard ; 
Braflica, cabbage ; Sinapis, milliard ; Raphanus, radiflt ; 
Bunias, tea-rocket ; Ifatis, woad ; Crambe, tea-cabbage, 
er. kale ; Cieome, bafe muftard ; and Chamira. 
A N Y. 
Example for Investigation. 
For the purpofe of illuftrating the genera in the clafs 
Tetradynamia, we have chofen the plant Cheiranthus, or 
ftock July-flower, belonging to the fecond order, Siliquofa ; 
which plant the young botanift may find in almofl every 
garden. Calyx, fig, 23, a ; a perianthium tetraphyllous^ 
comprefled, the fegments lanceolate, concave, eredt, paral¬ 
lel-converging, deciduous ; the two exterior gibbous at 
the bafe. Corolla, b ; tetrapetalous, cruciform; the 
petals roundifh, longer than the caly-x ; claws the length 
of the calyx. Nectarium, fig, 24, c; glands, furround- 
ing the bafe of the fliorter ftamens, on each tide. Sta¬ 
mina, s; the filaments fix, fubulate, parallel, the length 
of the calyx, two of them within the gibbous fegments of 
the calyx, fliorter than the other four; anthers eredt, bi¬ 
fid at the bafe, acute at the tip, and reflected. Pistpl- 
lum, jd; the germen, g, prifmatic, four-cornered, the 
length of the ftamens, with a tubercle on each fide ; ftyle 
-very fnort, compretfed ; ftigma ovate, bipartite, reflected, 
thickifh, permanent. Fig. 24, is the ftamina and piftillum 
taken out of tlie flower, and magnified, to ihew the parts. 
Pericarpium, fig. 25 ; a filiqua, or long pod, compreffed, 
the two oppofite angles, obliterated, marked with a tooth- 
let, bilocular, bivalvular ; retaining the very fhort ftyle, 
and the eredt bifid ftigma. Seeds, d ; many, pendulous, 
fixed alternately to each future, fubrotund, comprefled, 
having a membranaceous margin.—For the fpecies and 
varieties of this flower, fee Cheiranthus. 
CLASS XVI. MONODELPHIA. 
In this clafs the filaments are all united together at the 
bottom, but feparate at the top. The orders are deter¬ 
mined by the number of the ftamens; and the flowers are 
diftinguifliable by the following > 
Natural Character. 
Calyx : A perianthium always prefent, peffifting, and 
in moft genera double. 
Corolla: Pentapetalous, the petals inverfely heart- 
fhaped ; the tides of which lap each one over the next, 
contrary to the motion of the fun, or from the right to 
the left. 
Stamina: The filaments united below, but diftinct 
Upwards if there be more than one. The exterior ones 
fliorter than the interior. The antherae incumbent. 
Pistillum: The receptacle of the fruitification pro¬ 
minent in the centre of the flower. The germens eredt:, 
furrounding the top of the receptacle in a jointed ring. 
The ftyles are all united below in one fubftance with the 
receptacle, but divided above into as many threads as there 
are germina. The ftigma fpreading and tjiin. 
Pericarpium : A capfule divided into as many loctt- 
laments as there are piftiila. Its figure various in the dif¬ 
ferent genera. 
Seeds: Kidney-thaped.—The corolla in this clafs has 
been confidered by Tournefort as monopetalous ; but fince 
the petals are all diftindt at the bafe, it may be flyled more 
properly pentapetalous, notwithflanding the petals cohere 
by the union of the ftamina. The fruit in this clafs does 
not afford fuffkient marks whereby to diftinguifh the ge¬ 
nera ; but the calyx is of the utinoft importance, and fur- 
nifhes invariable charadfers. The petals are truly a con¬ 
tinuation of the cylindrical (heath, formed by the united 
filaments, which inclofes the ftyles and germens as it de- 
feends ; when rifing upwards, it fpreads out into petals. 
The plants of this clafs are efteemed.to be emollient and 
mucilaginous. The orders are eight, viz. 
Order 1. Triandria, comprehending fuch plants as 
have three flamina. This order contains two genera, viz. 
Aphyteia ; and Galaxia. 
Order 2. Pentandria, comprehending fuch plants as 
have five flamina. This order contains five genera, viz.Wal- 
theria; Lerchea; Hermannia ; Melochia ; and Symphonia. 
Order 3. Octandria, comprehending fuch plants as 
have eight ftamina. Of this order there is but one genus, 
viz. Aitonia. 
Order 
