BOTANY. 115 



From the vegetable world, also, are derived our dye stuffs; it is only 

 necessary to mention indigo, archill, logwood, &c., to excite curiosity 

 witli respect to the plants from which substances with such singular 

 properties are derived. 



Then again, as regards the medicinal or other properties of plants, 

 certain rules may be laid down in their classification. To certain 

 classes belong certain medicinal, poisonous, nutritive, or inoffensive 

 properties. Take for instance the natural family mnbellifera, such 

 as carraway, annise, carrot, or hemlock ; all those which grow on dry 

 ground are aromatic, whilst those of the same natural family, which 

 grow in watery places are among the most deadly poisons. Again, 

 take the natural family crucifierce, such as turnips, cabbage, or mus- 

 tard ; these are aromatic and acrid in their nature, containing essen- 

 tial oils, which are obtainable by distillation. Again, take the pappi- 

 lionaca or leguminous tribe of plants, such as the pea, bean, or vetch. 

 In this family, Linnaeus asserts, there is no deleterious plant to be 

 found ; this, however, is not exactly true. Some of the individuals in 

 these natural orders, altho' very nearly related, nevertheless, possess 

 various qualities. In the leguminous tribe we have the cystilus la- 

 bumum, the seeds of which are violently emetic, and those oilathyrus 

 sativus, have been supposed, at Florence, to soften the bones and 

 cause death. In the sub-divison, even, of a genus, there is often a 

 remarkable difference in the properties of a species ; there are for 

 instance, solanums, as potatoe and night-shade ; lettuces, as lactuca 

 virosa, and lactuca saliva ; cucumbers, as cucumis agristis, or squirt- 

 ing cucumber, and citcumis sativus or garden cucumber ; and mush- 

 rooms, both poisonous and esculent. The foxglove {digitalis pur- 

 purea) and common mullien {verbascum thlapsus) are included in 

 the same natural family, and yet one is as active as the other is mild 

 in its effects. But what is more embarrasing, and therefore worth 

 notice, is that different parts of the same plant will possess different 

 properties, a fact which is beautifully exemplified in the May apple 

 {podophyllum peltatum) the leaves of which are poisonous, the root 

 powerfully cathartic, and the fruit agreeably esculent ; but we need 

 not go further than the fruit of the lemon, the juice of which is acid, 

 the seeds bitter, and the rind aromatic, or in the poppy, the seeds of 

 which are mucilaginous, and the capsule a powerful narcotic. " M. 

 Berthonet has recorded a remarkable instance of the harmless quality 



