Editing John Ray (section)

==== System of classification ====

Ray's system, starting with his Cambridge catalogue, began with the division between the imperfect or lower plants ([[Cryptogams]]), and perfect (''planta perfecta'') higher plants ([[Seed plants]]). The latter he divided by [[life forms]], e.g. trees (''arbores''), shrubs (''frutices''), subshrubs (''suffrutices'') and [[herbaceous plants]] (''herbae'') and lastly grouping them by common characteristics. The trees he divided into 8 groups, e.g. ''Pomiferae'' (including apple and pear). The shrubs he placed in 2 groups, ''Spinosi'' ([[Berberis]] etc.) and ''Non Spinosi'' ([[Jasmine]] etc.). The subshrubs formed a single group and the herbs into 21 groups.{{sfn|Slaughter|1982|loc=pp.&nbsp;62–63}}

Division of Herbae;
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
# Bulbosae (''[[Lilium]]'' etc.)
# Tuberosae (''[[Asphodelus]]'' etc.)
# Umbelliferae (''[[Foeniculum]]'' etc.)
# Verticellatae (''[[Mentha]]'' etc.)
# Spicatae (''[[Lysimachia]]'' etc.)
# Scandentes (''[[Cucurbita]]'' etc.)
# Corymbiferae (''[[Tanacetum]]'')
# Pappiflorae (''[[Senecio]]'' etc.)
# Capitatae (''[[Scabiosa]]'' etc.)
# Campaniformes (''[[Digitalis]]'' etc.)
# Coronariae (''[[Dianthus|Caryophyllus]]'' etc.)
# Rotundifoliae (''[[Cyclamen]]'' etc.)
# Nervifoliae (''[[Plantago]]'' etc.)
# Stellatae (''[[Rubia]]'' etc.)
# Cerealia (''[[Leguminosae|Legumina]]'' etc.)
# Succulentae (''[[Sedum]]'' etc.)
# Graminifoliae (''[[Gramineae|Gramina]]'' etc.)
# [omitted]
# Oleraceae (''[[Beta (plant)|Beta]]'' etc.)
# Aquaticae (''[[Nymphaea]]'' etc.)
# Marinae (''[[Fucus]]'' etc.)
# Saxatiles (''[[Asplenium]]'' etc)
{{div col end}}

As outlined in his ''Historia Plantarum'' (1685–1703):{{sfn|Singh|2004|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=z6fMBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA302 John Ray p.&nbsp;302]}}
* Herbae ([[Herbaceous plants]])
** Imperfectae ([[Cryptogams]])
** Perfectae ([[Seed plants]])
*** [[Monocotyledons]]
*** [[Dicotyledons]]
* Arborae ([[Trees]])
** Monocotyledons
** Dicotyledons