206 



DICECIA. 



of the staminate and pistillate aments of flowers. By com 

 paring these parts from different trees, the pupil will soon bo 

 bale to distinguish the difference, and to determine which 

 tree will bear fruit, and which not. In the Salix, or Willow, 

 for instance, each ament contains many stamens, or pistils, 

 the scales of which the ament is chiefly formed, serving as 

 calyxes to each individual flower. 



In the staminate or barren florets, there are from one to five 

 stamens, with a nectariferous gland at the base. In the pis- 

 tillate or fertile florets there are two stigmas. 



These flowers are neither corolla nor perianth. The sta- 

 minate aments may readily be distinguished in some of the 

 species, by the yellow anthers, which are elevated by their 

 filaments considerably above the scales of the ament. In the 

 Swamp Willow, (Salix eriocephala,) a small tree growing in 

 wet places, the erect, downy aments are very conspicuous in 

 the early spring. In this species the fertile aments are the 

 longest, and may also be known by their wanting the yellow 

 anthers which distinguish the barren trees. 



In this class the orders are distinguished by the number 

 and situation of the stamens. 



ORDER I. MONANDRIA. Stamen 1. 



GENUS Pandanus. Screw-Pine. Name from the Malay 

 Pandang, by which word this tree is known. Its common 

 name appears to have come from the direction of the grain of 

 the bark, which runs around the body of the tree, instead of 

 lengthwise, as is usual. 



The species Odoratissimus is a large spreading bush, and 

 is cultivated in Japan on account of its perfume, which of all 

 perfumes is said to be the richest, most powerful, and most 

 delightful. Of the leaves of this tree; the Sandwich Islanders 

 make their finest and most beautiful mats. 



ORDER II. DIANDRIA. Stamens 2. 



GENUS Salix. Willow. Name, from the Celtic, sal, 

 near, and lis, water. This is a very large and widely diffused 

 genus. It grows in nearly every climate and soil, some of 

 its species inhabiting Lapland, and Siberia, while others are 

 found in the East Indies, and the Levant. Thirty-five species 

 are natives of North America. (Torrey.) Besides which, 



How are the orders of this class distinguished ? Are the willows cor> 

 fined to any particular climate or not ? 



