CLASS XI. 



TWELVE STAMINA. 



This Class has six Orders. 



This Class is called, in botanical language, by a 

 name (Dodecandria) which supposes the plants to 

 have twelve stamina ; but the exact number twelve is 

 so uncommon, that no plant has been found to have 

 that number with unvarying precision, therefore this 

 Class has been made to include such as may be found 

 to have from eleven to sixteen stamina, and in some 

 cases more, though in no instance to exceed nineteen. 



PURPLE LOOSE-STRIFE grows on the banks 0n °^ ura 

 of rivers, ponds, and ditches, and blossoms in July and 

 August. 



Some old writers have attributed to this genus 

 the power of taming and reconciling ferocious and 

 discordant animals, by putting it about their yokes or 

 necks ; in our improved state of knowledge, how this 

 fanciful opinion could have prevailed is difficult to guess, 

 and it is now of no further importance than to account 

 for the etymology of its English name. 



COMMON AGRIMONY blossoms in June and order «. 

 July, and is common every where in rough borders of 

 fields, and other waste places. When this plant is 

 begining to flower, it will dye wooll of a good bright 



