Methodus plantarum emendata et aucta

...is perfectly formed from the beginning, and thereafter only increases in size; indeed, in the embryo, all parts of the fruit can be discerned even before the flower unfolds. Furthermore, I am not pleased by the arbitrary Classes to which he refers herbs of different genera—that is, those provided with flowers of different forms—such as the First, Second, and Third Classes of his Elements of Botany Latin: Elem. Bot., referring to Tournefort’s 1694 work Éléments de botanique. I call these Classes "arbitrary" because, by his own choice and because it so seemed fit to him, he assigns three genera of herbs of a different character to each of them; whereas by equal right, had it pleased him, he could have assigned either two or even four. Perhaps this seemed convenient to him for equalizing the number of species within each Class. But if this be permitted to Mr. Tournefort Latin: D. Tournefort; the "D." stands for Dominus, a title of respect for a learned man, why should it not be for any other Botanist? If so, there will be as many Methods as there are Teachers.

Finally, the differences between genera taken from the structure of the flower cannot but be uncertain and obscure, since scarcely two people will agree on the similarity of flowers. Indeed, if we grant that a similarity exists between some, who, I ask, shall determine how far this similarity must be extended in establishing genera? Who will decide where the boundary should be set between flowers of different forms—as, for example, between the Clove-like Latin: Caryophylleos, referring to the Dianthus or Pink family and the Rose-like Latin: Rosaceos, or between either of these and the Four-petaled Pod-bearers Latin: Tetrapetalos Siliquosarum, the family containing mustard and cabbage?

III. As for what pertains to Mr. Hermann’s Method Paul Hermann (1646–1695), a German-Dutch physician and botanist known for his work in Ceylon and his botanical system based on the fruit and seed, it seems least of all to be admitted, since...