184 POLYDELPHIA. 



trail upon the ground, though a few rise to the height of four 



Or six feet without support. Fjg . ] 91 . 



Lucern, Nonesuch, Snail, Tur- 



ban, Medick, and several other 



singular looking species are of 



this genus. Our figure, Fig. 



191, from Loudon, represents 



the Hedgehog Medick. The 



Lucern, (Medicago sativa,) is 



cultivated as a grass. 



CLASS XVIII. POLYDELPHIA. Stamens united into 

 several parcels. Orders 2. 



The name of this class is derived from polys, many, and 

 adelphos, brother ; and signifies many brotherhoods ; in allu- 

 sion to the union of the stamens into many parcels. It is one 

 of the smallest of the Linnaean classes, but consists almost 

 entirely of plants, remarkable for their beauty, or usefulness. 

 It includes the Orange, Lemon, and Lime, and the plant of 

 which chocolate is made. 



The orders are distinguished by the number of stamens. 



ORDER I. DECANDRIA. Stamens 10 or 12. 



GENUS Theobroma. Chocolate Nut. Name of heathen 

 origin, from Theos, God, and broma, food, in allusion to the 

 excellence of its produce. There are two species of the 

 Chocolate Nut tree, the smooth leaved, and the woolly leaved. 

 It is the former, (Theobroma cacao,) which produces the nut 

 from which chocolate is prepared. The tree grows sixteen 

 feet high, and produces a smooth fruit about three inches in 

 diameter, with a thick rind, which contains about twenty-five 

 seeds. These seeds being ground and mixed with a little 

 arnotto oil, and perhaps some other ingredients, and made in- 

 to paste, form the chocolate of the shops. 



ORDER II. POLYANDRIA. Stamens many. 

 GENUS Citrus. Orange Tree. Origin of the name, un- 

 known. The golden apples of the heathens, and the forbid 

 den fruit of the Jews are supposed to allude to this genus. 



What are the distinctive characters of the class Polydelphia ? What 

 does the word polydelphia signify ? What important plants does this class 

 include ? What kind of tree produces the chocolate nut, and how is it 

 prepared ? 



