24 THE ROSACEOUS FAMILY. 



double row, the outer spreading. In the Thistle the 

 calyx is imbricated, and each scale or leaflet termi- 

 nated by a spine. But every genus or family of the 

 compound flowers, has its particular marks or charac- 

 ters of distinction to be studied at leisure. At present, 

 we have only to do with the distinguishing traits of 

 the compound flowers ; and here one of the most 

 obvious and certain distinctions of this great tribe is 

 the union of the anthers into a tube. This circum- 

 stance alone, will at once direct you, in every case of 

 doubt, to the true and invariable character of the 

 compound class, and hence termed Syngenesia by 

 Linnaeus, in reference to this growing together of the 

 anthers. But for this character, you might readily 

 suppose that the flowers of the Teasel and the Sca- 

 bious were indubitably of this tribe, and though they 

 are indeed compound or aggregate flowers, their 

 stamens, only four, are not united or syngenesious. 



CHAPTER VII. 



OF THE ROSACEOUS FAMILY. 



In the family of the Roses are included not only 

 some of the most beautiful ornaments of our gardens, 

 but the principal, and almost only fruits of our or- 

 chards. It is divisible, however, into several sections, 

 and in the first, which has been called Pomaces, or 

 the Apple tribe, is arranged our fruits, distinguished 

 as follow : The stamens, twenty or more, (or indefi- 

 nite in their number,) instead of arising from the re- 

 ceptacle or base of the germ, are attached to the 

 calyx, either immediately, or with the corolla, which 

 consists commonly of five petals. The following are 

 characters of some of the principal genera. 



