Oh. XXL] CLASSES AND ORDERS. 123 



using it as Americans do tobacco. Those who have read the 

 Lady of the Manor, Stories on the Church Catechism, and 

 other works of Mrs. Sherwood, as well as those of other Avri- 

 ters on the manners and customs of the people of India, will re- 

 collect the betel nut. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



Class 3d Class kth. 

 s III. TRIANDRIA, three stamens. 



Order 1st, Monogynia, om pistil. 



74. 521. This picture represents two 



flowers of this class and order. At a 

 is a flower of the genus Ixia, (from 

 the Greek ivios, blue.) the common 

 name of which is blackberry-lily, 

 though the blackberry-lily common in 

 our gardens is of an orange colour ; at 



, 



b is the same flower cut lengthwise to 

 .shoAv the three stamens ; this is not a 

 liliaceous flower, notwithstanding its 

 common name, as such flowers have 

 six stamens. Fig. 74, at c, represents 

 the Nardus, or mat-grass : this flower 

 differs from those of the common grass- 

 es in having but one pistil. 



522. The Crocus is among our earliest garden flowers ; its 

 name is derived from ancient Mythology, which pretended that 

 a youth of that name was transformed into this plant. 



523. The species of crocus called remits (a name which sig- 

 nifies spring) sometimes appears as early as March, and often 

 springs up amidst surrounding snow banks; it is of various co- 

 lours, purple, straw coloured, yellow, and variegated. This is a 

 Bulbous plant, with linear leaves, a spatha calyx, and a corolla 

 of six petals. 



524. One species of the Crocus, the autumnalis, blossoms 

 late in autumn; the large yellow stigmas, furnish the true saf- 

 fron which is sold by druggists. The plant commonly known 

 among us as the saffron, is a compound flower, and belongs tu 



521. What does Fig. 74 represent 1 



522. What is said of the Crocus with respect io the derivation of its 

 name 1 



523. Describe the Crocus vernus. 



524. Describe the Crocus autumnalis. 



