MONCECIA. 199 



to be a native of nearly every part of the world. The stem 

 is six or eight feet high, straight and beautifully formed. 

 Leaves sword shaped, and four or five feet long. These are 

 employed by coopers to insure the tightness of their casks, 

 and by others for making chair bottoms, &c. The upper 

 part of the compact spike, or catkin, bears the stamens, 

 or barren flowers, "and the lower part the pistils, or fertile 

 ones. 



To this order belong the sedges, (Carex,) a very exten- 

 sive and widely disseminated genus, but of little use or 

 beauty. 



ORDER IV. TETRANDRIA. Stamens 4. 



GENUS Alnus. Alder. Name from the Celtic words al, 

 near, and Ian, the edge of a river, in reference to the wet 

 places, which this genus prefers. The species are small 

 trees, which form thickets in wet places. Our most common 

 species is the notch leaved Alder, (Alnus Fi s- 196 - 



serrulata,) leaves obovate, serrate, and on 

 long petioles. This tree flowers in March, 

 and produces, at first, smooth, pretty look- 

 ing aments, hanging in clusters of two or 

 three. They afterwards grow lax, and 

 emit a yellow dust, which is the pollen. 

 These are therefore, the staminate, or bar- 

 ren aments. The fertile ones, which 

 bear the pistils, are shorter, and rigid, 

 forming small cones, which remain on the 

 tree. These parts are represented by Fig. 196. The Beech, 

 Mulberry, Nettle, and Box Tree, belong here. 



ORDER V. PENTANDRIA. Stamens 5. 



GENUS Amaranthus. Amaranth. Name from the Greek, 

 a, and marino, signifying not to wither, because the flowers of 

 many of the species retain their color and form, when dried. 

 This is a numerous genus, some of which are ornamental, 

 but most of them are common weeds. Prince's Feather, 

 (Amaranthus hypochondriachus,) and Love-lies-bleeding, (acau- 

 datus,) are common garden species. White, and Tri- 

 colored Coxcomb, are also well known species. 



Whence does the genus Alnus derive its name ? Which are the stami- 

 nate and which the pistillate parts in Fig. 196 ? What is the derivation 

 of the word Amaranth ? 



