In our descriptions of wild flowers we do not always repeat those features which are common to the species of their respective orders. These features are, however, of the greatest importance; and thus it is essential that the reader makes himself acquainted with them, by referring to the synopsis of the orders, before noting those characters which are given as being more directly concerned in the determination of the species themselves. Thus, when we describe the Pasque Flower (p. [297]) we do not refer to those general characters that apply to all the Ranunculaceæ or Buttercup family, and which may be seen at once by referring to p. [17], but give all those details that are necessary to enable one to distinguish between the Pasque Flower and the other members of the same order.
Dicotyledons
(Leaves with netted veins. Parts of flower generally in fours or fives or multiples of four or five)
- I. Flowers with both calyx and corolla.
- A. Corolla composed of free and separate petals.
- 1. Stamens attached to base of flower, beneath the pistil—Orders 1-22.
- 2. Stamens attached above or around the pistil—Orders 23-36.
- B. Corolla of united petals.
- 1. Ovary inferior.
- a. Stamens on the corolla—Orders 37-41.
- b. Stamens on the ovary—Orders 42-43.
- 2. Ovary superior.
- a. Stamens free from the corolla—Order 44.
- b. Stamens on the corolla—Orders 45-59.
- 1. Ovary inferior.
- A. Corolla composed of free and separate petals.
- II. Flowers with calyx or corolla or both absent.
- A. Flowers with corolla absent, and, generally, with stamens and pistil in the same flower.
- 1. Ovary superior—Orders 60-64.
- 2. Ovary inferior—Orders 65-67.
- B. Corolla and calyx usually absent. Stamens and pistil usually in separate flowers.
- 1. Flowers not in catkins—Orders 68-71.
- 2. Flowers in catkins—Orders 72-76.
- A. Flowers with corolla absent, and, generally, with stamens and pistil in the same flower.
Monocotyledons
(Leaves usually with parallel veins. Parts of flower in threes or multiples of three)
- I. Perianth (see p. [11]), coloured or petal-like, not scaly. (Sometimes absent.)
- A. Ovary inferior.
- 1. Leaves with parallel veins—Orders 77-80.
- 2. Leaves with netted veins—Order 81.
- B. Ovary superior—Orders 82-88.
- A. Ovary inferior.
- II. Flowers without perianth, enclosed in scales or husks.
- A. Grassy herbs, with solid stems; leaves forming unsplit sheaths round the stem; flowers in spikelets, with one to three stamens—Order 89.
- B. Grassy herbs, with hollow stems; leaves generally forming split sheaths round the stem; flowers generally perfect, with three stamens—Order 90.