CLASS HEXANDRIA. 83 



are disposed in numerous white umbels. The calyx 

 is 5-toothed, and superior ; the petals 5. The stig- 

 mas partly globose. The fruit a 5-celled, 5-seeded 

 berry. 



To the singular classification of Pentandria po- 

 lygynia is referred the Xanthorhiza, or Yellow Root 

 of the mountains of Carolina. But as it belongs to 

 the natural order Ranunculaceje, we may properly 

 consider it as a plant of an irregular number of sta- 

 mens, and related to Polyandria. It is a very low 

 running undershrub, with a yellow root, occasionally 

 used in dying, having bipinnate, Parsley-looking 

 leaves, and brown, small flowers, disposed in com- 

 pound racemes. There is no calyx ; 5 petals ; and 

 5 obovate, pedicellate lepanthia, or petaloid nectaries. 

 Each flower is succeeded by from 5 to 8, I -seeded, 

 half 2-valved capsules. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



THE CLASS HEXANDRIA. 



In this artificial class will be found a very natural, 

 though varied assemblage of plants, of which some 

 are closely related to others of the third class, the 

 numbers 3 and 6 having a symmetrical ratio to each 

 other, and are indicative of one of those grand 

 distinctions in the vegetable kingdom, which separate 

 them into primary or principal divisions ; most of the 

 plants of Hexandria, with the exception of a few 

 shrubs, appertaining to the great monocotykdonons 

 class of the natural method. 



With the liliaceous tribe you are already generally 

 acquainted. The Lily itself presents two sections in 

 the form of the corolla, which is composed of 6 



