BALSAMINE^. 75 



decumbent stem, bearing umbels of flowers with peduncles shorter 

 than the petioles of the leaves. In Berkshire County ; this spe- 

 cies has probably been confounded with the preceding. 



ORDER 124. TROPiEOLEiE. Nasturtium Tribe. 



A small order, whose species are natives of South America. 

 One is commonly cuhivated in our gardens, for use and ornament. 



Trop^olum. L. 8. 1. 

 T. majus. L. Nasturtium. The calyx and corolla both of 

 an orange color ; flowers irregular and spurred ; a running vine, 

 easily trained, and running several feet, bearing fleshy or leathery 

 sulcate nuts, often pickled. In hot climates it is said to be a 

 shrub ; in the colder, is a vine ; was carried from Peru to Europe 

 in 1684. Admired for the flowers, leaves, and fruit. It is called 

 TropcEolum from the fancied resemblance of its flower to a 

 banner of triumph, — a trophy. If a branch of the plant is placed 

 in a phial of water, it will grow and run for weeks, and sometimes 

 blossom, and may thus be extended over a room. 1 1 species of 

 this genus are found in South America. 



ORDER 126. BALSAMINE^. Balsam Tribe. 



This order bears irregular, 1 -spurred flowers ; stamens 5, 

 hypogynous, or under the ovary ; fruit capsular, with 5 elastic 

 valves, by which the seeds are thrown about when mature. Some 

 are said to be diuretic, and some emetic. Only 2 species in 

 North America, and few on the globe. 



Impatiens. L. 5. 1. 



/. pallida. N. Touch-me-not, or Jewel Weed. Stem 2 

 feet high, branched, smooth, succulent, with rhombic-ovate leaves ; 

 spur recurved, on the shorter petal; flowers pale-yellow, 3-4 

 on a solitary peduncle ; blossoms in August ; grows in wet grounds 

 and damp waste places ; its capsule bursts with great elasticity, 

 when ripe and dry, and the plant is hence often called Snapper., 

 and, from its pendant flower, Jewel Weed. 



