234 Introductory View of the 



remains single. It is, therefore, from the styles, at their base, 

 that the number is reckoned, or, where the style is wanting, 

 from the stigmas. 



. Of the class Monandria, this country furnishes examples of 

 four genera in the first order, and one in the second. These 

 are all marsh plants, and chiefly affecting the sea coast ; they 

 are neither among the handsomest nor the most valuable of 

 our native plants. One or two species are, I believe, of some 

 chemical importance ; and, from some foreign genera of this 

 class, we obtain ginger, cardamoms, turmeric, arrow-root*, 

 and, as the catalogue informs us, (and the reader will be sur- 

 prised to hear it,) opera girls ! (Mantisia saltatoria) from the East 

 Indies. If the reader have any doubt of the fact, let him pro^ 

 ceed forthwith to the botanic garden at Cambridge, where he 

 may see a specimen of each ; if, indeed, the saltatory tenden- 

 cies of the latter have admitted of its remaining stationary for 

 any length of time. It must be acknowledged that some of 

 our English names are such as might startle a foreigner. 

 Thus we furnish our gardens and green-houses with Old 

 Mens' Heads and Lady's Fingers, Cats' Tails and Dogs' 

 Tongues, Infernal Figs and Indian Gods. Our gardeners 

 are, however, more considerate than might be supposed. If 

 they grow Naked Ladies, they also grow Lady's Smocks, 

 Lady's Mantles, Lady's Slippers, and Blue Bonnets; nor do 

 they forget to provide Lady's Combs, and a crop of Looking- 

 glasses. If they have the Tooth-ache tree, they also culti- 

 vate Patience; though they have Double Tongues, they are 

 well supplied with Honesty to counteract them. In opposition 

 to the Melancholy tree, they exhibit True Love, Heart's Ease, 

 and Traveller's Joy ; and though they deny not 

 their London Pride, they are very careful to 

 preserve the Humble Plant as an example. 



The second class, Di^ndria, is divided into three 

 orders; Monogynia {fig, 96. «), Digynia {b\ 

 Trigynia (c) ; one, two, and three styled. It is 

 to be observed that, in the first twenty classes, 

 the presence of the pistil is essential ; if that is 

 wanting, the plant must belong to one or other of 

 the latter classes, as will be more fully explained 

 in its proper place. 



The first order of the second class contains ten 

 British genera (that is, ten genera, of which some 



* So named from the Indians using its juice as a remedy for wounds 

 inflicted by poisoned arrows. It is also considered an excellent remedy for 

 the stings of venomous insects, so prevalent in hot climates. 



