MONANDRIA. 107 



Having made these explanations, it is hoped that the pupil 

 will be enabled readily to understand the illustrations of the 

 classes, and orders, which are now immediately to follow. 



CLASS I. MONANDRIA. Stamens I. Orders 2. 



(The cuts which illustrate the first ten classes, con- Fig. A. 

 tain, not only the number of stamens by which each 

 class is characterized, but also one pistil each, so that 

 the same cut illustrates the first order in every class. 

 The stamen is marked a, and the pistil b.) 



Monandria is not a large class, though it contains 

 some plants of considerable value. 



ORDER I. MONOGYNIA. 1 Stamen. 1 Style. 

 " To this class and order, belong the natural tribe called 

 ScitaminecB, or the Ginger tribe, and which is considered one 

 of the most beautiful families of the vegetable kingdom. The 

 useful productions, are the Ginger, Cardamon, and Turmeric, 

 spices which are highly esteemed, and in general use. The 

 Salicornia, or Saltwort, also belongs here, and is abundant on 

 the sea-shores of New England. 



GENUS Zinziber. Ginger. Its name is from the original 

 Indian appellation. The root, which is very extensively em- 

 ployed in medicine, and as a spice, comes from the broad and 

 narrow leaved species. These roots are prepared by being 

 taken up when the stalks fade, and after being washed and 

 scalded, are afterwards dried in the sun. This forms the 

 black ginger. The white kind is not scalded, but only dried 

 in the sun. 



When the root is to be preserved in syrup, it is taken up 

 and scalded before it is fully grown, and after being steeped 

 and washed in water, it is put into jars and covered with a 

 thin syrup (Brown's Jamaica.} This root comes chiefly 

 from the West Indies. 



GENUS Curcuma. Turmeric. The name Curcuma is 

 from the Arabic kurkum, or kercum. The part employed is 

 the root, which is of a yellow color, and was formerly much 

 used in cookery, to give a tinge to various dishes. There are 

 a number of species belonging to this genus. That which is 

 best known in this country is the long rooted Turmeric, and 

 is used for coloring, and in medicine. The roots of some 



How many stamens and styles, or pistils, has a plant belonging to Mo* 

 nandria, Monogynia ? What valuable plants are contained in this class ? 

 In what class and order does the ginger plant belong ? What is tho use 

 of turmeric 7 



