4 PRACTICAL BOTANY. 



witli white-clover. These different sorts are allied mem- 

 bers of a commuDity, which we call Genus (kind). Clover 

 (Trifolium) is the Genus, which is represented by several 

 species — namely, Stone-clover , Bed-clover, Zigzag-clover, 

 etc. 



A GENUS IS A COLLECTION OF SIMILAR SPECIES. 



13. Perchance not far away from the clover-field there 

 are two pieces of groimd, one covered with Melilot, the 

 other w^ith Medick. Seen from afar, these sorts of vege- 

 tables may be taken for clover ; but, examined closely, 

 they prove to be distinct, but similar kinds or genera — 

 that is, Melilot and Medick represent a genus each, just 

 as a genus was represented by Clover. 



14. Finally, the genera Clover, Melilot, and Medick 

 are members of a higher community — namely, of an 

 Order (or Family) ; and this particular order is called that 

 of the Leguminous plants. It happens that, during our 

 botanical excursion, we soon meet with other members of 

 the order. We stop short in front of a copse of plants, 

 which bear a striking resemblance to those we have just 

 examined. There is a plant climbing over bushes, the 

 Wild Bean or Ground-nut, bearing short racemes of but- 

 terfly-like flowers, similar to those of Clover, Melilot, and 

 Medick. And not far off, on the very border of a wood, 

 there are some trees with flowers of the same sort— name- 

 ly, some specimens of the beautiful Locust-tree. 



Eeviewing the members of the order we have thus be- 

 come acquainted with, we learn that their afl&nity is found- 

 ed on peculiarities which they all have in common — 

 namely, the compound leaves, the butterfly- like flowers, 

 and the form of the fruit, resembling a pea-shell. 



An order is a collection of similar genera. 



15. In the Northern and Middle States, w^e have 134: 



