PART 1.

LECTURE II.

GENERAL DIVISION OF THE SCIENCES WHICH RELATE TO MIND AND MATTERDIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF BOTANICAL SCIENCE-PARTS (F A FLOWER.

THE Universe, as composed of mind and matter, gives rise to va rious sciences. The SUPREME BEING we believe to be immaterial, or pure mind.

The knowledge of mind may be considered under two genera heads.

1. THEOLOGY,* or that science which comprehends our views of the Deity, and our duties to Him.

2. PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN MIND, or metaphysics,† which is the sci ence that investigates the mind of man, and analyzes and arranges its faculties.

The knowledge of matter, which is included under the general term, Physics, may be considered under three general heads.

1. NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, which considers the effects of bodies acting upon each other by their mechanical powers; as their weight and motion.

2. CHEMISTRY, in which the properties and mutual action of the elementary atoms of bodies are investigated.

3. NATURAL HISTORY, which considers the external forms and characters of objects, and arranges them in classes.

NATURAL HISTORY is divided into three branches.

1. ZOOLOGY, which treats of animals.

2. BOTANY, which treats of plants.

3. MINERALOGY, which treats of the unorganized masses of the globe as stones, earths, &c. GEOLOGY, which treats of minerals as they exist in masses, forming rocks, is a branch of mineralogy.

Having thus presented you with this general view of the natural sciences, we will now proceed to that department which is to be the object of your present study.

Departments in Botany.

BOTANYS treats of the vegetable kingdom, including every thing which grows, having root, stem, leaf, or flower. This science comprehends the knowledge of the methodical arrangement of plants, of their structure, and whatever has relation to the vegetable kingdom. The study of plants may be considered under two general heads.

1st. The classification of plants by means of comparing their different organs, is termed Systematic Botany.

2d. The knowledge of the relations and uses of the various parts of plants with respect to each other, is termed Physiological Botany. This department includes Vegetable Anatomy.

From the Greek Theos, God, and logos, a discourse.

From meta, beyond, and phusis, nature. This term originated with Aristotle, who, considering the study of the intellectual world as beyond that of the material world, or physics, called it meta ta phusis.

From zoe, life, and logos, a discourse.

§ From the Greek, botane, an herb.

The Universe composed of two classes of existence-Divisions of the sciencec which relate to mind-Those which relate to matter-Branches of Natural HistoryDefinition of Botany-Systemauc Botanv-Physiological Botany.

Sytematic Botany is divided into the artificial and natural methods. The artificial method is founded upon different circumstances of two organs of the plant, called the pistils and stamens. Linnæus, of Sweden, discovered that these organs are common to all plants, and

essential to their existence. Taking advantage of this fact, he founded divisions, called classes and orders, upon their number, situation, and proportion. By this system, plants which are unlike in their general appearance, but agree in certain particulars of their stamens and pistils, are brought together; thus in a dictionary, words of different signification are placed together from the mere circumstance of agreement in their initial letters.

Before you can learn the principles on which the classification of plants depends, it is necessary that you should become acquainted with the parts of a flower;-you have here the representation of a white Lily. (See fig. 1.) At first this flower

is folded up in a green bud, by degrees it changes its colour, and expands into a blossom.

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Fig. 2.

The envelope is called the corolla from corona, a crown.

The pieces which compose the corolla are called petals. (Fig. 1. a.)

The six thread-like organs within the corolla are called stamens; each stamen consists of a filament, (Fig. 2. a,) and an anther (b.) The anther contains the pollen, a fine powder, which serves to give life to the young seed. When the flower comes to maturity, the anthers burst and scatter the pollen. In the centre of the flower is the pistil, (Fig. 2. c;) this consists of the germ, (d,) the style, (e,) and the stigma, (f) The germ contains the young seeds, called ovules; these are contained in one or more cavities, called cells. The end of the stem which supports the organs of the flower, and which in some plants is very broad, is called the receptacle, (Fig. 2. g.)

Artificial Method-The flower enveloped in the bud -Corolla-Petals-Stamen Parts of a stamen-Pistil-Parts of the pistil-Receptacle.

*

valves as appears in a mature state. (Fig. 3. B) represents the capsule as if cut transversely to show its three cells (b;) each cell contains two triangular seeds (c.)

The lily, although a beautiful flower, is deficient in one organ, which is common to the greater part of flowers; this is the calyx, or cup, which is usually green, and surrounds the lower part of the corolla, as in the Pink.

When the calyx consists of several parts, these are called sepals and sometimes leaves of the calyx.

The organs we have now considered, are as follows:

Calyx-the cup, surrounding the corolla, the parts are called sepals Corolla-the blossom, the parts are petals.

Stamens-next within the corolla, the parts are the anther, pollen, and filament.

Pistil-central organ, the parts are the germ, style, and stigma.
Receptacle-which supports the other parts of the flower.
Besides these, there are in the mature plant, the

Botanical Analysis.

Although the examination of the different organs of the flower may properly be called analysis, because it is the observation of constituent parts singly ;-yet when the botanist speaks of analyzing plants, he understands an examination of their organs with reference to determining their place in some botanical system.

We will now proceed to the analysis of some plants, that we may thus introduce the pupil to what we believe the best system of botanical arrangement for popular use.

Division of Plants into Classes, &c.

According to the system we shall adopt, al. plants are divided into twenty-one classes. Each class is divided into Orders, the Orders into Genera,* and the Genera into Species.

The name of the genus may be compared to the family name; that of the species, to the individual or christian name; for example: the

The plural of genus, a family or tribe.

Pericarp-Describe that of the lily-Calyx-Sepals-Enumerate the parts of a flow -Whis meant by analyzing plants?-Classes-Orders-Genera-Species.

Rose family contains many different species; as Rosa alba, the white rose, Rosa dumascena, the damask rose, &c. The specific or individual name in Botany, is placed after the family name, as Rosa alba, which is rose white, instead of white rose: this circumstance is probably owing to the use of Latin terms; as in that language the adjective is generally placed after the noun, instead of before it, as in English.

LECTURE III.

METHOD OF ANALYZING PLANTS.-ANALYSIS OF THE PINK, LILY, ROSE, AND POPPY.

WHEN you begin to analyze plants, you will meet with many new terms. It will be necessary in these cases, to resort to the vocabulary of botanical words ;* by the observation of plants, connected with definitions, you will soon become familiar with the technical terms of Botany.

We will now proceed to analyze a flower in order to ascertain its botanical name. We will commence with the Pink, as you are provided with a drawing which you can examine if you have no natural flower.t

The first step, is to find the class. We will suppose this flower to belong to one of the first ten classes; in this case, all you have to do is, to ascertain the number of stamens, as by this circumstance, these classes are arranged.

Because there are ten stamens, (Fig. 4. a,) the Pink is in the 10th class, the name of which is, Decandria. The second step is to find the order. In the first 12 classes,

the orders depend on the number of pistils;-these you must count; -because you find two, (Fig. 4. b,) you know your flower belongs to the 2d order;-the name of which is Digynia.

You must now turn to the "Description of the Genera of plants;" find class 10th, order 2d. The third step is to ascertain the genus of your plant; for this purpose, you must compare it with each genus. until you find it described.

This is placed in the latter part of this volume.

In analyzing a natural flower, it is necessary to separate the parts; first, if there is a calyx, remove it carefully, then take off the corolla, or if it is monopetalous, cut it open with a knife. A microscope is necessary if the organs are very small.

See Table of Contents.

First step in the analysis of the Pink-second step-third step.

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Fig. 5.

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1st. 'HYDRANGEA. Calyx 5 toothed. superior ;'-your calyx is 5 toothed, (see the notches around the top of it, Fig. 5, a,) but it is not superior, that is, it does not stand upon the germ. You must go to the next genus.

2d. 'SAXIFRAGA. Calyx 5 parted, half superior,'-but your calyx is not half superior, or partly above the germ. You must go to the next ge

nus.

3d. 'SAPONARIA. Calyx inferior, 1 leafed, tubular, 5 toothed,'-so far the description agrees with the Pink; next, calyx without scales.' In this particular, your flower, the calyx of which has scales, (Fig. 5. b,) does not correspond with the description; therefore you must look further.

4th. DIANTHUS. Calyx inferior, cylindrical, 1 leafed, with 4 or 8 scales at the base; petals 5, (Fig. 4, a,) with claws (long and slender at the base ;)—capsule cylindrical, celled, dehiscent (gaping.') Fig. 5 at c, represents the ripe capsule of the pink opening at the top by the parting of its valves ;-at d, it appears cut crosswise, and showing that it has but one cell, and many seeds. Fig. 4, at c, represents the capsule, as seen in the germ, when the pink is in blossom. Your flower agreeing with every particular in the description of the lastmentioned genus, you may be certain that you have found the gen eric or family name of the Pink, which is DIANTHUS.

But there are several species in this genus; you wish to know to which the Pink belongs; and this process constitutes a fourth step in your analysis.

Turn to the Description of Species of Plants,* and look for Dian thus. Now compare the description of each species, with a Pink having the leaves and stem before you; 1st. 'Armeria, flowers ag. gregate,' (in a thick cluster ;) this does not agree; you must look

further.

2d. 'Barbatus, flowers fascicled,' (crowded together,) but your flower grows singly on each stalk.

3d. Caryophyllus, flowers solitary, scales of the calyx sub-rhomboid, (somewhat diamond-shape ;) very short, petals crenate, (scolloped on the edge,) beardless,' (without any hair or down.)

The Pink answers to this description. It is also added that the 'leaves are linear,' which signifies long and of nearly equal width; subulate,' which signifies pointed at the end, like a shoemaker's awl; 'channelled,' which signifies furrowed.

You have now found the botanical name of your plant to be DiANTHUS Caryophyllus; and that it belongs to

Class 10th, DECANDRIA. Order 2d, DIGYNIA.

In this way it should be labelled for an herbarium or collection of dried plants.

You will remember, that in this process, four distinct steps have been taken; first, to find the class; second, the order; third, the genus, and fourth, the species.

You can now proceed with the analysis of any plant which belongs

See Table of Contents.

Fourth step in the analysis of a plant.