Cll. XXII. ] CLASSES AND ORDERS. 129 



548. In the fifth class are to be found some large natural fami- 

 lies of plants; of these I shall mention the Asperifolio!. from 

 the Latin words asper, rough, and folium, a leaf, signifying 

 rough-leaved plants. In this family are many different- genera, 

 all of which have hairy or rough leaves ; the Cynoglossum is 

 so called from the Greek kiion, a dog, and glossa, tongue, the 

 broad gval leaves being thought to resemble a dog's tongue. 

 The common name of the plant is Hoimd's-tongue. Although 

 this is considered as belonging to the family of rough leaved 

 plants, the hairs of its leaves are soft and downy, like the sur- 

 face of velvet ; it is about two feet high, having panicles of red- 

 dish purple flowers. You must not fail to collect specimens of 

 this plant to analyze ; it is in blossom about the middle of sum- 

 mer, growing by the sides of fences or near roads, and about 

 old buildings. 



549. There is a large family of plants in this class, called 

 the Luridce, from lurid, signifying pale or livid, as this is the ge- 

 neral appearance of the plant. In this natural assemblage is the 

 Potato, the blossoms of which you will do well to examine ; the 

 little green balls which grow from the flowers are the pericarps 

 and contain the seed; but the plant is generally produced from 

 the root. 



550. The botanical name of the genus in which the potato is 

 found is Solanum, from so/or, to comfort; because some specie^ 

 in the same genus possess narcotic qualities. You would not 

 expect to find in the same genus with the potato, plants which 

 are highly poisonous, and yet here is the night-shade (Sola- 

 num dulcamara) whose berries are so injurious to life, that thir- 

 ty of them once given to a dog, first drove him mad, and then 

 caused his death, in less than three hours. Children should be 

 very careful not to touch these berries, which are red, and 

 might easily be mistaken for currants, especially as they grow by 

 hedges, where such fruit is often found. It is always unsafe to eat 

 any vegetable production, which is not well known and familiar. 



551. In the genus Solanum, are the Tomata, or love apple, 

 and the Egg-plant, which in southern countries are much used 

 in soups and sauces. In our climate, although they may be 

 easily cultivated, they do not appear to attain that richness and 

 perfection which is common in southern latitudes. 



552. But the most valuable plant in the genus Solanum is 



548. What is said of the family called Asperifoliee, and of the genus 

 Cynoglossum 1 



549. What is said of the family called Luridas'? 



550. What is said of the genus which contains the potato? 



551. What is said of the Tomata and Egg-plant 1 



552. What is the most valuable species in the genus Solanum 'I 



