520 OCTANDRIA. 



geion, placed here by Linnaeus, is now properly 

 removed to Dodecandria. It is an East Indian and 

 Cape aquatic genus, bearing above the water white 

 fragrant flowers in a peculiar spike, which is either 

 solitary or double. 



4. Heptagynia, Septas, a Cape plant, very nearly 

 akin to Crassula, to which Thunberg refers it. If 

 its character in Linnaeus be constant with respect to 

 number, it is very remarkable, having the calyx in 

 seven deep segments, seven petals, seven germens, 

 and consequently seven capsules. 



Class 8. Octandria, Stamens 8. Orders 4. 



K Monogyiila. A very various and rich order, con- 

 sisting of the sveil-known TropcEolum or Nasturtium, 

 whose original Latin name, given from the flavour 

 of the plant, like Garden Cresses, is now become 

 its English one in every body's mouth. The elegant 

 and fanciful Linnoean appellation, equivalent to a 

 t7'ophy plant, alludes to its use for decorating bowers, 

 and the resemblance of its peltate leaves to shields, 

 as well as of its flowers to golden helmets, pierced 

 through and through, and stained with blood. See 

 Limi. Hort. Cliff, 143. — Epilobkim, E?igL Bot. 

 t. 838, 795, &c., with its allies, makes a beautiful 

 part of this order ; but above all are conspicuous 

 the favourite Fuchsia, the chiefly American genus 

 Vaccinium, t. 456, 319, &c. ; the immense and 

 most elegant genus Erica, so abundant in southern 



