CLASS FENTANPK1A. tl 



the stamens, being so many mere anthers situated, in 

 two different though contiguous parts of the tube. 

 The capsule resembles that of the Polemonium, but 

 differs in producing only a single seed in each of the 

 three cells of which it consists. The seeds are also 

 oblong, and, following the contours of the round cap- 

 sule, without angles. 



Another splendid genus of this family, altogether 

 American, is the Cantua or lpomopsis of Michaux. 

 These are chiefly biennials, with finely divided, or 

 rather pinnately dissected, alternate leaves, (those of 

 Phlox being entire and opposite.) The calyx resem- 

 bles that of Phlox, but more membranaceous ; the co- 

 rolla has a long, straight tube, and pointed, lobed border; 

 the capsule has many angular seeds in each of its 

 3 cells. The Cantua coronopifolia, in its leaves 

 and flowers so much resembling the Ipomasa qua- 

 moclit, or Cypress-vine, is perhaps the most splen- 

 did and elegant plant which the United States can 

 boast. The flowers are numerous, resembling so many 

 clustered little scarlet trumpets, spotted with the rich- 

 est carmine, and all inclined to a single side of the 

 erect stem, crowded below with leaves as fine as hairs. 

 B 'sides this better known species of the sandy woods 

 of the Carolinas, there are in the southwestern wilds 

 of the United States, up to the foot of the Rocky 

 Mountains, four or five other species of great beauty, 

 but as yet scarcely known to botanists. 



Another tribe of Pentandria deserving particular 

 attention is the order Solane^, of which Solarium, 

 the genus of the common potatoe, is the type. In this 

 genus the calyx has 5 or 10 persisting divisions; a 

 rotate corolla of one piece, commonly divided into 5 

 lobes on the border. The anthers connive together 

 iii the form of a cone, are of an oblong form, and have 

 the peculiarity of opening merelv at the top by two 



