known to those early writers must have been very small; and even that small number were very imperfectly understood. They had not, as we now have, a language by which every botanist is clearly intelligible to another; the description of one plant was very frequently applicable to many others; and, at this distance of time, it is, in many instances, impossible to ascertain what were the plants intended. Hence have arisen conjectures without end, upon questions which can never be determined. Thus, the ancient hyacinth is, by some, supposed to have been the Eastern flower which now bears that name; by others, on account of certain figures on the petals, it is believed to have been what we now term the martagon lily; and many think it was the larkspur. The mallow, so important as an esculent vegetable, and mentioned as such by Horace, and in the Old Testament, is now unknown. Most probably we have the plant, but are unable positively to identify it; and it is the same with many others. It was not till towards the end of the sixteenth century, that botany was reduced to any sort of system. The first systematic arrangement of vegetables was published by Casalpinus, an Italian physician, in the year 1583. Many others succeeded, which, however ingenious, were of little public utility, because no one was generally adopted; until the admirable system of Linnæus, towards the middle of the eighteenth century, prevailed over all others, and was universally approved and followed. may we say There is at present, however, a sort of rivalry between the system of Linnæus and what is termed the natural method of Jussieu. The heart-burnings of rivalry and party spirit should not be suffered to approach the amiable science of botany. Linnæus himself was earnest for a natural arrangement, and was well aware of its importance. He left what he called a fragment of a natural method, which he recommended succeeding botanists to perfect; not as a successor, but as a companion, to his own beautiful system. It has been well observed by Mr. Bicheno, that "the two great masters of botanical science propose different ends, and ought not to be regarded as rivals." The artificial system of Linnæus enables us to become acquainted with individuals; and, for this purpose, the object is to divide and to define the natural method of Jussieu looks to their connections and affinities; consequently its object is diametrically opposite to the former, and its business is combination. For a precise knowledge of the different species of plants, the system of Linnæus is unrivalled; and it is only by an accurate knowledge of the species, that we can avail ourselves of their : various properties. Let us not undervalue the labours of Jussieu; an accomplished botanist should be acquainted with both these systems; but we would recommend the young student to commence with the Linnean, as being at once the easiest in practice, and the least to be dispensed with. When we say that Linnæus divided the vegetable kingdom into twenty-four classes, each of which classes is again divided into several orders, these subdivided into genera, and the genera into species, let it not be supposed that all these various terms and subdivisions increase the difficulty to the young student, for the truth is diametrically the reverse. Let the reader suppose that he has a plant before him, of which he would learn the history. He must first ascertain its name. Among nearly 50,000 plants he has to seek this one. It will readily be seen that if he has to plunge into the midst of all these numbers, and to compare the plant before him with the full description of each individual species, until he meets with one corresponding to it, it will be a task demanding a large portion both of time and patience, and he will be fortunate if his plant be not entirely withered and decomposed, before he have accomplished the work. Let him, then, suppose that, by observing one or two particular characters, he ascertains that it belongs to a class, containing about two thousand plants; that, by another glance, he understands it to be of an order of that class, containing two hundred; his task is now considerably reduced, but by a little further observation, he yet diminishes the number much more, before he has recourse to the full descriptions of the plants. The order to which it belongs is arranged in several divisions, according to some conspicuous characters; by attention to these, the number is reduced to forty or fifty. By a little closer inspection, he assigns it to the proper genus; and now, instead of comparing it with the detailed description of 50,000 plants, he has but six, a dozen, or perhaps twenty, to examine. In many cases, he may ascertain the particular species, without having occasion to go through the full description of any one but that which actually belongs to it. What would have been a tedious task, is thus converted into an interesting occupation, and he is surprised to find how easy is that which he imagined to be so difficult. The difficulties have been met, and overcome, by those who have given them the station and the name that rightfully belong to them. It is this which displays the skill of the botanist; and to do this, if necessary, it should be the ambition of the student to qualify himself. The Linnean system is founded upon the parts of fructification, of which there are usually reckoned seven; the calyx, the corolla, the pistil, the stamen, the pericarp, the seed, and the receptacle. From one or more of these parts the class is formed; from others, the order and the genus. The species. is determined by the other parts of the plant; the root, stem, leaves, &c. The word calyx is of Greek origin, and signifies a cover; it is used to express the leaf, or leaves, usually growing immediately under the flower, and enclosing it while in bud. Its office is to protect the tenderer parts, and more particularly such as are essential to the production of fruit. It varies in situation, and yet more in form; and, according to these variations, is differently named, though the word calyx applies to them all. The most common of all its varieties is the perianth, so called from two Greek words, signifying around the flower. Its colour is most commonly, but not invariably, green. Corolla is the diminutive of the Latin word corona, a crown, and is applied to that part commonly termed the flower, often so beautifully coloured, and more, perhaps, than any other part of a plant, subject to the dominion of Fancy. It would seem as though Nature had given the corolla more particularly in charge of this playful goddess. It is generally believed that the corolla, like the calyx, is intended as a protection to the internal parts of the flower; but this is like giving one infant to the care of another. The corolla is almost always of a delicate texture, in many cases so frail that a breath will destroy or dismiss it from its station; it is itself in need of protection, and, most commonly, very unfit to bestow it. This lovely portion of the flower has many uses more consistent with its delicacy, than that of life-guardsman. It were enough were it destined only to give pleasure; and, not to speak of the many chemical and medical uses, it frequently lodges fragrant oils, which, scattering volatile particles in the air, perfume the atmosphere around, and afford an additional pleasure to those who come to gaze upon its beauty. The corolla is sometimes composed of one piece, sometimes of several pieces; these are named petals, from a Greek word signifying to expand; and, according to their number, it is styled monopetalous, one-petaled; dipetalous, two-petaled; tripetalous, three-petaled; tetrapetalous, four-petaled; pentapetalous, five-petaled; or polypetalous, many-petaled. (fig. 92. a, monopetalous corolla; b, the perianth.) Old authors used the word leaves as well to express the divisions of the corolla and calyx, as the leaves commonly so called. Misled by this confusion of terms, Addison, who was probably unacquainted with the flower described by Virgil, represents the Italian aster (A'ster Améllus) as a purple bush, with yellow flowers, instead of telling us that the flower had a yellow disk and purple rays. "Aureus ipse; sed in foliis, quæ plurima circum "The flower itself is of a golden hue, The leaves inclining to a darker blue; Dryden falls into the same error: ADDISON. "A flower there is that grows in meadow ground, And shines on altars like refulgent gold." We doubt whether the plant would very easily be found by this description, or any plant that should correspond with it. Still further to avoid any confusion of this sort, by using terms as distinct as possible, some modern botanists have substituted the word sepal for the leaves of the calyx, from sepire, to surround or hedge in. The pistil (fig. 93.) usually occupies the centre of the flower. It is composed of three parts: 1. the germen (a), which is the rudiment of the fruit; 2. the style (b), a tubular column proceeding from the germen; and 3. the stigma (c), or summit, which crowns the style. 93 The stigma is, more or less, covered with a glutinous moisture: it varies considerably in form; and that which is called the simple stigma, having no form to distinguish it from the top of the style, might conveniently be called the summit; but the two words are generally used indiscriminately. a с The stamen, also, (fig. 94.) is composed of three parts: 1. the filament, or thread (a), which is affixed to some part of the flower, mostly to the corolla, calyx, or receptacle; 2. the anther (b), which is sup94 ported by the filament, and is a little bag, or case, containing the third part, which is called the pollen (c). This last is apparently a fine meal; but, when seen through a microscope, every particle appears a little bag, containing a meal yet finer. As the pollen ripens, it swells the anthers, which at last open, and shed it upon the stigma. It adheres to that part by the glutinous moisture before mentioned, and, by means of the hollow style which connects it with the germen, feeds the young fruit until it has attained its full growth. Thus sits the style upon the seeds, like the hen bird upon her eggs; while the stamen, like a tender mate, supplies her with food. The pistil and stamen are the most essential parts of a flower, since, without them, no fruit can be produced. The corolla or the calyx may be wanting, and yet the flower will be termed perfect, because the absence of those parts is no obstacle to reproduction. Even the style and the filament may be absent, without preventing the formation or ripening of the fruit; and there are many flowers which have the stamen sitting close to the corolla, &c., without a filament, and the stigma to the germen without a style; but the anther, the germen, and the stigma are essential. The seed is contained in the pericarp, or seed-vessel, which is the germen (before described as a part of the pistil) when grown to maturity. The name of the seed-vessel varies according to its form, substance, &c.; but the word pericarp a word of Greek origin, which signifies around the seed, is applicable to all its varieties. The receptacle is the base, or medium, which connects the other parts of the fructification. Of the varieties of all these parts I shall say more hereafter. Of the twenty-four classes into which the vegetable kingdom is divided, the first ten rest solely on the number of stamens contained in their flowers; and proceed without interruption, the number of the class corresponding with that of the stamens. They are distinguished by the Greek numbers prefixed to the word andria, which is also of Greek origin, and signifies a husband, the stamen being considered the father of the fruit; while the pistil, which nourishes it in her bosom, being looked upon as the mother, is expressed by the word gynia, meaning a wife. By the number of the latter, the orders of these classes are distinguished. Thus, the first class, Monandria, is divided into two orders, Monogynia and Digýnia; in other words, those flowers which have but one stamen are divided into two sets; those which have one pistil (fig. 95. a), and those which have two (b); we should rather say styles, for 95 it frequently happens that they are multiplied, while the germ VOL. I. No. 3. Ꭱ |