GENUS, among metaphysicians and logicians, denotes a number of beings, which agree in certain general properties, common to them all ; so that a genus is an abstract idea, expressed by some ge neral name or term.
A genus is an assemblage of several species : that is, of several plants which resemble one another in their most essen tial parts. Hence it is aptly enough com pared to a family, all the relations of which bear the same surname, although every individual is distinguished by a par ticular specific name. In botany the es tablishment of genera renders the subject more simple and easy, by abridging the number of names, and arranging under one denomination, termed the generic name, several plains, which, though dif ferent in many other respects, are found invariably to possess certain relations in those essential parts, the flower and fruit. Plants of this kind are termed by bota nists plant e congeneres, that is, plants of the same genus.
Linnaus's genera contain a description of each particular part of fructification, its various relations and different modes with respect to number, figure, situation, and proportion. Thus, all the different
species of calyx, corolla, nectarium, stami na, &c. furnish the observer with so many sensible and essential characters. These characters the author denominates the let ters or alphabet of botany. By studying, comparing, and, as it were, spelling these letters, the student in botany comes, at length, to read and understand the gene rical characters which the great Creator has originally imprinted upon vegetables : for the genera and species, according to Linnxus, are solely the work of nature ; whilst the classes and orders are a com bination of nature and art. Upon these principles, Linnaeus, in his genera planta rum, determines the generical characters of all the plants there described.