102 OCTANDRIA. 



mon plant among corn and in garden hedges. This 

 is the only engiish Genus of this Order of which Pro- 

 fessor Martyn enumerates thirty-six different species, 

 of which ten are indigenous. It blossoms from 

 June to September) the stem twists round every- 

 thing in its way. It is a genus whose species differ in 

 the number of their stamina, and pistillaj yet, as Dr. 

 Smith observes, no species can be more naturally allied ; 

 therefore the Linnaean system here, as in many other 

 cases, claims the indulgence of the scientific Botanist, 

 whose principles are founded on natural affinities. 



A plant that grows with a twining and spiral stem 

 invariably turns in the same direction. The Kidney- 

 bean and the Convolvulus turn with the apparent 

 motion of the sun, while the Hop and the Honey- 

 suckle take a contrary direction ; and any act that can 

 be employed to change this law of nature is injurious 

 to the plant, and, if persevered in, destructive. The 

 Marsh-mallow-leaved Hermannia is a curious instance 

 of two flowers growing on the same stem, which have 

 a spiral character, but which are invariably twisted in 

 opposite directions to each other. 



ORDER 4. 



tetragy. TUBEROUS MOSCHATELL. This curious 



NIA. • . 



plant, with green petals, of \* hich there is but this 



one species, has been found wild in many parts of the 



Four ri?lilla. 



