1^64 Linnean System of Plants, 



of one leaf, in five deep, oblong, acute, erect, or somewhat 

 spreading segments ; permanent {f). Corolla of one petal, 

 funnel-shaped; tube cylindrical, curved to one side just above 

 the base, and recurved towards the summit {e) ; limb in five 

 rather deep rounded segments, sometimes oblique, and slightly 

 irregular {g) ; mouth closed with five rounded, concave, hairy, 

 converging valves {d). Filaments very small, within the tube, 

 at the uppermost curvature. Anthers oblong, incum- 

 bent {h). Germs four (c). Style thread-shaped, half the 

 length of the tube (?). Stigma obtuse, notched [k). Seeds 

 four, ovate, angular, with a bordered scar, attached to the base 

 of the enlarged swelling calyx (/)." All these characters cor- 

 respond with the plant before us. If we observe a calyx from 

 which the corolla has fallen, and the seeds grown to a toler- 

 able size, we find that the calyx also has grown larger than 

 when it supported the flower ; and if we take one of the seeds 

 out of it, we may see that the part by which it was fastened is 

 a little hollow in the centre, so that the circumference of the 

 seed forms a border round it. The part by which a seed is 

 fastened is called the scar^ or hilum : this may be seen in the 

 broad bean, and in many other seeds ; and is the part which 

 we turn downwards when we sow them. But for our plant : 

 we have ascertained it to be a iycopsis ; and as there is only 

 one British species, it must, of course, be that one. Let us 

 see if it agrees with the description of that. " Whole herb 

 very bristly and prickly. Stem erect, branched, slightly angu- 

 lar, leafy, one or two feet high. Leaves light green, single- 

 ribbed [m) ; the lower ones bluntest, and tapering down into 

 foot-stalks {n) ; the rest sessile, or clasping the stem. Clusters 

 in pairs, forked (o), revolute ( p) ; erect when in fruit, display- 

 ing their enlarged bristly bracteas (q). Partial * stalks shorter 

 than the calyx, erect, especially in fruit. Calyx very bristly. 

 Corolla bright blue; tube and valves white; limb a little 

 irregular, and inclining. Seeds hard, grey, ovate, pointed, 

 wrinkled, and granulated." 



Our plant is the small Bugloss (Zycopsis arvensis), a very 

 common annual weed, flowering in June. Having so accurately 

 examined this plant, and confidently ascertained it, I will 

 now take leave, for the present, of the fifth class ; and, in my 

 next, shall invite your readers to admire with me the beautiful 

 class Hexandria. 



* The partial stalk is that which actually bears the flower, and connects 

 it with the larger, which is called the common flower- stalk. Botanically, a 

 flower-stalk is called a peduncle; and when there are both partial and 

 common flower-stalks, the former are termed pedicles (from pediculus, dim. 

 o£pes, a foot or prop). A l0af-stalk is distinguished by i^&tejtm petiole. 



