133 



BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS 



and producing a blue-black berry, which is used 

 for flavouring gin. Oil of juniper is distilled from 

 the unripe fruit, and in Lapland the bark is twisted 

 into ropes. The oil is used medicinally to increase 

 the action of the kidneys, especially in cases of 

 dropsy. 



The Scotch Fir (Pinus sylvestris) is a spreading 

 tree, and varies considerably in colour and dura- 

 bility ; the best variety has rough reddish bark 

 and reddish wood. Although it is the only species 

 of Fir or Pine tree which is considered to be truly 

 indigenous in the British Islands, there are several 

 other species which are easily acclimatised, and are 

 frequently planted. Some of these are European 

 trees, such as the Pinaster (Pinus pinaster) ; the 

 Stone Pine (Pinus pined), which bears edible fruit; 

 the Larch (Larix europced) ; and the Spruce Fir 

 {Abies excelsa). Others are altogether of foreign 

 origin, such as the Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus 

 Libani), and the great Mammoth Tree (Sequoia 

 gigantea), and Redwood (S. sempervirens) and the 

 Douglas Pine (Abies californicd), from the Western 

 States of America. The Mammoth Tree s:ro\vs 



to the height of 300 feet, and is one of the tallest 

 trees known, except some of the Blue Gum Trees 

 (Eucalyptus) of Australia. It has not, however, 

 been planted sufficiently long in Britain for speci 

 mens to have yet attained any very considerable 

 size in this country. 



CLASS II 

 MONOCOTYLEDONES 



In these plants the stem is fibrous, and the plant 

 springs from a single shoot, instead of rising in 

 two uniform leaves. The leaves are simple or 

 entire ; and the calyx and corolla, when present, 

 are usually combined into a 6-lobed perianth. 



To this Class belong reeds and grasses, as well 

 as many bulbous plants, like Orchids, Onions, and 

 Lilies. 



Sub-class I. Dictyogenae 



Leaf-veins reticulated ; flowers without glumes. 



