PENTANDRIA. 

 CLASS V. 



FIVE STAMINA. 



This Class has seven Orders. 

 ORDER I. 



LOTUS. This is a very branching thorny shrub ; monogy- 



it is a native of Africa, where it abounds from the east- _J 



ern to the western extremity, and by the natives held 

 in high estimation; it is also found wild in many parts 

 of Asia. It blossoms early in the spring, and the 

 fruit ripens in autumn. 



Among the ancients, there seems to have been 

 several different plants of this name, both arborous 

 and herbaceous ; but of this, there can be little doubt 

 that it is the Lotus of the Lotophagi of Homer, the 

 same as is thus described by Herodotus, Polybius, and 

 Pliny. 



Herodotus. " Lotophagi inhabit the coast of 

 these Gindenes (an African people) which stretches 

 to the sea; who live by eating the fruit only of the 

 Lotus. This fruit of the Lotus is in size about as 



One Pistil- 

 lum. 



