112 TRIANDRIA 



rushes are chiefly barren of nutriment, and hence are seldom 

 preserved for fodder, and if preserved are seldom eateu. 

 The Iris is a numerous and beautiful genus, besides which, 

 the first order of this class contains the Valerian, Crocus ^ and 

 Papyrus, all of which are interesting on different accounts. 



ORDER I. MONOGYNIA. Stamens 3. Style 1. 



GENUS Valeriana. Valerian. Linnaeus derives its name 

 from king Valerius. This genus has a considerable number 

 of species The plants are perennial herbs, from one to three 

 feet high, and bear their flowers in corymbs or panicles. 

 One species only is worthy of notice. This is the great 

 Wild Valerian, (Valeriana qfficinalis.) The root of this has 

 a strong aromatic smell, and is a well known remedy in hys- 

 terical cases. 



GENUS. Crocus. This is an ancient name, being derived 

 from the youth Crocus, who, as the heathen poets feigned, 

 was turned into this flower. The genus is among the most 

 ornamental of garden flowers, and some of the species are 

 particular favorites on account of their early flowering, as well 

 as their beauty. The useful species is the Saffron of apothe- 

 caries, ( Crocus sativus,] which, as a medicine, and a coloring 

 drug, is well known. This differs widely in its habits from 

 most of the other species. The Spring Crocus, (Crocus ver- 

 nus,) sometimes appears in full bloom in the beginning oi 

 April, while the Saffron does not flower until September or 

 October. The Spring Crocus is commonly propagated by 

 its bulbous roots, but its varieties may be increased at pleas- 

 ure by sowing its seeds. 



GENUS Iris. This name signifies rainbow, so called on 

 account of its variety of colors, and is the same by which it 

 was known by Pliny, near two thousand years ago. It is 

 known in this country under the name of Flower-de-luce. 

 The genus is distinguished by having a six parted flower, 

 every other division of which, is reflected, or rolled backward, 

 the stigma being shaped like petals. The genus presents 

 sixty or seventy species, some of which are found in almost 

 every country. They differ in size and appearance greatly, 

 some being two or three feet high, while others are only as 

 many inches. They are most of them perennial herbaceous 



Whence does valerian derive its name 1 Whence does crocus derive 

 its name ? How may this plant be propagated ? What does the name 

 Iris signify ? and why is the genus so called ? 



