namely, the CALYX, or outer guard; the COROLLA, or coloured leaves; the STAMINA; and the PISTILLUM. The calyx is evident in the mofs-rofe, being thofe elegant rough leaves which inclofe the blushing beauties of the flower: it is alfo confpicuous in the primrofe, being that angular tube out of which the more delicate parts of the flower iffue. The corolla of the primrofe is that yellow ornament which by unbotanical obfervers is itfelf confidered as the flower. The ftamina are confpicuous in moft flowers, and are diftinguifhed by the farina or duft with which they are covered. In the primrose they proceed from the infide of the tube of the corolla; and, when matured, form themselves into a circle round the top of the tube. The piftillum, in the primrose, is that delicate white pillar, which, rifing from the bottom of the tube of the corolla, fhews its flatted top in the middle of the ftamina, and in the center of the flower. According to Linneus, the calyx is an expanfion of the outer bark; the corolla, of the inner bark; the ftamina, of the wood; and the piftillum, of the pith of the plant; and according to his Sexual System, the ftamen is the male, and the piftillum the female, part of generation, Whether this laft is or is not a fact in nature, has been the subject of much difpute. But, to the FLORAL SYSTEM, it is, we are humbly of opinion, a matter of no great import. The parts themselves, and and not their functions, are the bafis of the Linnean System; and we are clear in our opinion, that if that great man had confidered his Syftem as being, what it in reality is, merely FLORAL, without having unfortunately clogged it with the idea of SEXUAL, he would have faved himself a host of enemies, and would beyond a doubt have rendered his System infinitely more fimple and fcientific, and confequently more useful, than it really is. But it is now too late to regret: his Syftem is established; and himself no more. Having however faid thus much, it would be unpardonable in us not to add, that whether we confider his genius, his perfeverance, or the Syftem he has formed, notwithstanding its imperfections, he died one of the greatest characters the world has known. The VEGETABLE KINGDOM is divided by LINNEUS into twenty-four CLASSES: thefe Claffes are fubdivided into ORDERS; the Orders into GENERA; the Genera into SPECIES; and the Species into VARIETIES. His principle of Claffification is feen in the following "KEY "KEY OF THE SEXUAL SYSTEM. MARRIAGES of PLANTS. Florefcence. [PUBLIC MARRIAGES. Flowers vifible to every one. [In ONE BED. Husband and wife have the fame bed. All the flowers hermaphrodite : ftamens and piftils in the same flower. WITHOUT AFFINITY. Husbands not related to each other. Stamens not joined together in any part. WITH EQUALITY. All the males of equal rank. Stamens have no determinate proportion of length. 1. ONE MALE. 7. SEVEN MALES. 8. EIGHT MALES. 11. TWELVE MALES. WITH SUBORDINATION. Some males above others. Two famens are always lower than the others. 14. TWO POWERS. | 15. FOUR POWERS. WITH AFFINITY. Hufbands related to each other. Stamens cohere with each other, or with the piftil. 16. ONE BROTHERHOOD. 17. TWO BROTHERHOODS. 19. CONFEDE RATE MALES. 18. MANY BROTHERHOODS. 20. FEMININE LIN TWO BEds. Husband and wife have feparate beds. MALES. Male flowers and female flowers in the fame fpecies. CLANDESTINE MARRIAGES. Flowers fcarce visible to the naked eye. 24. CLANDESTINE MARRIAGES." His CLASSES are : I. ONE MALE (Monandria.) One ftamen in an hermaphrodite flower. II. TWO MALES. (Diandria.) Two husbands in the fame marriage. III. THREE MALES. (Triandria.) Three hufbands in the fame marriage. IV. FOUR MALES. (Tetrandria.) Four husbands in the fame marriage. Four ftamens in the fame flower with the fruit. V. FIVE MALES. (Pentandria.) Five hufbands in the fame marriage. Five ftamens in an hermaphrodite flower. VI. SIX MALES. (Hexandria.) Six hufbands in the fame marriage. Six ftamens in an hermaphrodite flower. (If the two oppofite flamens are shorter, it belongs to Clafs 15.) VII. SEVEN MALES. (Heptandria.) Seven husbands in the fame marriage. Seven Stamens in the fame flower with the piftil. VIII. EIGHT MALES. (O&andria.) Eight husbands in the fame marriage. Eight ftamens in the fame flower with the piftil. IX. NINE MALES. (Enneandria.) Nine husbands in the fame marriage. Nine ftamens in an hermaphrodite flower. X. TEN MALES. (Decandria.) Tea hufbands in the fame marriage. XI. TWELVE MALES. (Dodecandria.) Twelve ftamens to nineteen in an hermaphrodite flower. XII. TWENTY MALES. (Icofandria.) Generally twenty hufbands, often more. Stamens inferted on the calyx (not on the receptacle *) in an hermaphrodite flower. XIII. MANY MALES. (Polyandria.) Twenty males or more in the fame marriage. XIV. TWO POWERS. (Didynamia.) Four husbands, two taller than the other two. XV. FOUR POWERS. (Tetradynamia.) Six husbands, of which four are taller. Six ftamens of which four are longer, and the two op- XVI. ONE BROTHERHOOD. (Monadelphia.) Stamens are united by their filaments † into one body. XVII. TWO BROTHERHOODS. (Diadelphia.) Hufbands arife from two bafes, as if from two mothers. Stamens are united by their filaments into two bodics. XVIII. MANY BROTHERHOODS. (Polyadelphia.) Hufbands arife from more than two mothers. Stamens are united by their filaments into three or more bodies. XIX. CONFEDERATE MALES. (Syngenefia.) Hufbands joined together at the top. Stamens are connected by the anthers forming a cylinder (feldom by the filaments). XX. FEMININE MALES. (Gynandria.) Husbands and wives growing together. Stamens are inferted in the pistils (not on the receptacle). XXI. ONE HOUSE. (Monoecia.) Hufbands live with their wives in the fame house, but have different beds. Male flowers and female flowers are on the fame plant. "The base by which the parts of the fructification are connected.” + The thread or body of the ftamen. The tips or heads of the ftamen. |