S68 OF THE NECTARY 



glandular kind. In the natural order of 

 Cruciform plants, composing the Linnaean 

 class Tetradi/naniia, these are generally four 

 green glands at the base of the Stamens. See 

 Dent aria, Engl. Bot. t. 309, Sisymhrium^ 

 i. 525, and Brassica, t. 637. In Salix\ 

 t. 1483, and Geranium, t. 322, 75, cScc, 

 similar glands are observable ; whilst in 

 J^elargonium, the African Geranium, the 

 Nectary is a tube running down one side of 

 the flower-stalk. 



The elegant Parnassia, ' 82, of which we 

 are now acquainted with two new American 

 species, has a most elaborate apparatus called 

 by Linnaeus Nectaries,/. 175, but which the 

 cautious Jussieu names Scales only. Linnaeus 

 usually called every supernumerary part of a 

 flower Nectary, from analogy only, though 

 he might not in every case be able to prove 

 that such parts produced honey. This is 

 convenient enoua;h for botanical distinctions, 

 though perhaps not always right in physio- 

 logy ; yet there is nothing for which ^ he has 

 been more severely and contemptuously cen- 

 sured. He was too wise to answer ilhberal 

 criticism, or he might have required his ad- 



