561 



Seriphium, Corymbium, and Strumpfia. 



" None of the Composites are poisonous, except Ta- 

 getes, Doronicum, and Arnica ; the latter is more so than 

 Doronicum. They contain much of a bitter flavour; 

 hence many of the order are medicinal and strengthen- 

 ing. Some, less bitter, as Arctium, Cynara, Carduus, are 

 therefore esculent. Many semrftosculosi are used as food, 

 though furnished with a milky juice, which in them is not 

 poisonous," (see a remark under Order 30th.) "except 

 Lactuca virosa, whose juice as above mentioned, has the 

 quality of opium, and L. sativa has a soporific virtue. 

 Boiling entirely destroys the power of this, as well as of 

 the other semiflosculosi." 



Order 50th. Amentace*. " An amentum, catkin, is 

 a species of calyx, and very like a spike, consisting of a 

 common receptacle, drawn out like a thread, on which 

 the flowers stand in alternate order, subtended by scales 

 or bracteas. Such a calyx is found in the plants of this 

 order, whence Linnaeus gave it the above name. They 

 are all either trees or shrubs, with alternate leaves, and 

 separated 'male and female flowers, being either mono- 

 ecious or dioecious. Many of them produce but one seed 

 from each flower ; but Salix and Populus bear a seed- 

 vessel of two valves, with many seeds. The styles are 

 usually two or three. The flowers come before the leaves, 

 that the latter may not hinder the access of the pollen of 

 the male to the female blossoms." 



" Monoecious genera are Betula, Carpinus, Corylus, 

 Quercns, Juglans, Fagus, and Platanus." 



" Dioecious ones Pistacia, Myrica, Populus, and 

 Salix." 



Order 51st. Conifers. " These are generally ever- 

 green trees of cold climates. In the Indies almost all 

 the trees are evergreen, and have broad leaves ; but in 

 our cold regions most trees cast their foliage every year ; 

 and such as do not, bear acerose, that is, narrow and 

 acute, leaves. If they were broader, the snow which falls 



VOL. II. 2 o 



