Mycological System

) Thus, in the disposition, class passes to class, order to order, genus to genus, in the same way as closely related species follow each other in a series; not, however, in such a way that, for example, the highest genus of the preceding order passes into the lowest of the following, or the most perfect species of an inferior genus into the lowest of the following. Every natural section exhibits a circle closed in itself. Rather, the highest genus passes to the superior ones of the following order Altera dispositio est methodus adaptata: e.g., If after the resupinate Merulii you were to place the resupinate Polypori, then the remaining tribes up to Mesopus; then the stipitate, sessile, and resupinate Hydna; finally the resupinate Thelephorae, etc. An evident example, as I hope; this is truly the idea of adapted systems!.

It is easily clear from this that the entire System, extended to the lowest forms, is not to be perceived as proposed in a simple series. Hence, it is also easily explained in what manner more imperfect forms are often placed before more perfect ones in a book, for example, Clavariae before Mitrate fungi. For the Mitrate are the summit of the Uterine Hymenomycetes, and the Clavati are the lowest race of the Hymenial Hymenomycetes. I have demonstrated, however, that the Hymenial are more perfect than the Uterine when taken together; from this, it does not follow that the lowest Hymenial are inferior to the highest Uterine, but that the highest Uterine are inferior to the highest Hymenial (which we demonstrated on page 455). For the series of nature, as we have said most frequently, is not simple; one series follows another.

Nature is the developed God; thus, every natural kingdom is its developed individual. Oken.