tables. We shall soon see, on the other hand, that the class Polyandria abounds in poisonous or active vegetables. In this respect, the two assemblages are very different from each other, and this circumstance should have had some weight with rash innovators, before they made the disposition to which I have objected. In fact, the mode of insertion of the stamens in the class Icosandria is a feature of great importance. Even in other classes, a like mode of insertion sometimes gives an indication of the wholesome properties of the vegetable. This is the case with the genus Ribes, comprehending the different kinds of Currants, Gooseberries, &c. which are some of the most innocent fruits in the class Pentandria*.

WHILST, however, I object to the melting down of the two classes Icosandria and Polyandria into one class, I confess, again, that I should have no objection to see the last of these classes, in some measure, blended with the class Dodecandria: that is, I think it would be well to introduce all the true Dodecandrous plants, having more than ten stamens, into Polyandria. This would, certainly, facilitate the labour of the student. For, after being told, that the Dodecandrous plants have from twelve to nineteen stamens inclusive, with what propriety do we include in the class Polyandria a number of genera in which no botanist perhaps, has ever observed as many as nineteen of the male sexual organs: in which, at least, the number nineteen is exceedingly In Podophyllum, Sanguinaria, and some other

rare.

* The stamens of Ribes are inserted into the calyx.

genera, we rarely observe more than fifteen or sixteen stamens *.

THE class Polyandria is subdivided into seven orders, viz. MONOGYNIA, DIGYNIA, TRIGYNIA, TETRAGYNIA, PENTAGYNIA, HEXAGYNIA, and POLY

GYNIA.

MONOGYNIA.

ONE FEMALE.

THIS first order contains the following genera: viz. Marcgravia, Ternstromia, Alstonia, Trilix, Rheedia, Mammea, Papaver, Cheledonium, Capparis, Actea, Cambogia, Calophyllum, Grias, Sparmannia, Mentzelia, Sloanea, Cistus, Corchorus, Sarracenia, Tilia, Ochna, Muntingia, Elæocarpus, Myristica, Argemone, Lagerstroemia, Thea, Lecythis, Sanguinaria, Jeffersoniat, Podophyllum, Bixa, Nymphæa, Trewia, Laetia, Seguieria, and Delima,

* In some of the earlier editions of the Genera Plantarum, several genera which were afterwards introduced into Dodecandria, had actually a place in Polyandria. I here mention the names of these genera, viz. Bocconia, Cratæva, Euphorbia, Peganum, Portulaca, Triumfetta, Heliocarpus, and Reseda. See Genera Plantarum, &c. Editio secunda. Lugduni Batavorum: 1742. See Part I. page 68. note.

† Jeffersonia has, very generally, only eight stamens. Sometimes, however, it has more; but never, I believe, as many as twenty. From its near affinity to Podophyllum and Sanguinaria, it may with as much propriety be introduced into the class Polyandria, as these two genera.

DIGYNIA.

TWO FEMALES.

THIS order is much less extensive than the first. It contains the following genera, viz. Calligonum, (which is referred by Willdenow to the class Dodecandria), Fothergilla, Curatella, and Pæonia.

TRIGYNIA.

THREE FEMALES.

THE genera Delphinium and Aconitum are referred to this order; as is, also, a species of Reseda, Reseda Luteola, called Yellow-weed, or Dyers-weed.

TETRAGYNIA.

FOUR FEMALES.

THIS order contains the genera Tetracera, Caryocar, and Cimicifuga.

PENTAGYNIA.

FIVE FEMALES.

AQUILEGIA, Nigella, Reaumuria, and Brathys be

long to this order.

HEXAGYNIA.

SIX FEMALES.

THE genus Stratiotes, or Water-Soldier, and Brasenia belong to this order.

POLYGYNIA.

MANY FEMALES.

THIS beautiful order contains the following genera, viz. Dillenia, Illicium, Liriodendron, Magnolia, Michelia, Uvaria, Annona, Nelumbium, Anemone, Atragene, Clematis, Thalictrum, Adonis, Ranunculus, Trollius, Isopyrum, Helleborus, Caltha, Houttuynia, Hydrastis, Drymis, and Unona. Also a new and singular NorthAmerican genus, of which two species are now known. They are aquatic plants, with peltate leaves.

CHARACTER.

By some writers, the class Polyandria has been deemed a natural class. As such I cannot consider it, though it is, unquestionably, more natural than some of the other classes of the sexual method. It is one of those classes which comprehend several pretty natural families of vegetables, that are related to each other by affinities.

I

more or less striking. I shall here mention the principal natural assemblages of this class.

THE genus Capparis belongs to Linnæus's twentyfifth natural order, Putaminee*. This plant gives name to an order in the system of Mr. De Jussieu, the order Capparides: the fourth order of his thirteenth class. It embraces, beside Capparis, the genus Marcgravia, together with Crataeva, Reseda, Drosera, and Parnassia, of preceding classes, not to mention others. Bixa, Tilia, and Thea form a part of Linnæus's order Columnifera. Cistus belongs to his twentieth order, Rotaceat. This genus gives name to the twentieth order of Jussieu's thirteenth class: the order Cisti, which does not appear to me to be a natural assemblage of vegetables. The genera Papaver, Chelidonium, Glaucium, Argemone, Sanguinaria and Podophyllum, together with Bocconia (of the x1th class) belong to Linnæus's twentyseventh natural order, Rhoeadea‡. Papaver gives name to an order in the system of Mr. De Jussieu: the order Papaveracea, which embraces, beside Papaver, all the genera of Linnæus's Rhoeadeæ (Podophyllum excepted), and some others. The following Polyandrous genera belong to Linnæus's twenty-sixth natural order, Multisiliquæ**: Actæa, Pæonia, Delphinium, Aconi

* Putamineæ, from putamen, a shell, because the fleshy seed-vessel, or fruit, of these plants is frequently covered with a hard and woody shell.

+ Rotacea, from rota, a wheel; because several of the plants of this order have a flat wheel-shaped petal (corolla rotata), without a tube.

Rboeadea, from Rbocas, the name of Dioscorides and Pliny for the common

Corn-Poppy.

** Multisiliquæ, from multus, many, and siliqua, a pod, because the plants of this order have more seed-vessels than one. The name, however, of this order is by no means an appropriate one; for the plants do not bear pods (silique), but in general, many dry capsules: some of them are furnished with no proper seed-vessel, but have numerous distinct seeds.