POPULAK SKETCH 



OP 



THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



SHOWING THE 



CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS ACCORDING TO THE NATURAL 



SYSTEM, 



WITH THEIR LOCALITIES, PROPERTIES, AND USES. 



COMPILED FROM THE WORKS OF LINDLEY, BALFOUR, &c. 



PHANEROGAMOUS, OR VASCULAR FLOWERING PLANTS. 



EXOGENS. 



The largest class in the Vegetable Kingdom. It is distinguished by the following 

 characteristics: 1. The Wood is exogenous, that is, increases in bulk by the addition 

 of new wood on the outside of the old wood, between it and the bark. 2. The Veins of 

 the Leaves are netted, and the leaves are joined to the stem, so that when dead they 

 separate readily at the joint. 3. The Flowers have their parts arranged in fours or 

 fives, or some multiple of those numbers. 4. The Seeds have usually two lobes, as in 

 the Bean, Almond, &c., rarely more, as in the Firs, but never one. 



THALAMIFLOR2G, 



Having Calyx and Corolla ; Petals distinct, and inserted into the thalamus; 

 Stamens hypogynous. 



1. Rammeulacese, CROWFOOTS. Herbs, or rarely shrubs, found in cold, damp 

 climates. These plants are all, more or less, acrid and poisonous. Lindley enumerates 

 41 genera, and 1,000 species. (See Fig. 1.) 



2. Dilleniaceae, DILLENIADS. Trees, shrubs, or undershrubs, found chiefly in Aus- 

 tralia, India, and the warm parts of America. They have astringent properties, and 

 some species are used for tanning purposes; others afford valuable timber. There are 

 26 genera, and 200 species. 



3. Magnoliaceae, MAGNOLIADS. Fine trees or shrubs, abounding in North America, 

 and found also in South America, Australia, China, and Japan. Lindley notices 11 

 genera, and 65 species. These plants have, in general, a bitter tonic taste, and fragrant 

 flowers. Some species yield by distillation an aromatic oil, similar to the oil of anisej 

 and others are valuable for their timber. (Fig. 2 ) 



4. Anonaceae, ANONADS, or CUSTARD APPLE Family. Trees or shrubs of tropical 

 countries. Their properties are usually aromatic and fragrant; some species yield 

 edible fruits, and others a kind of pepper. The lancewood of coachaaakers is furnished" 

 by a plant of this order. Lindley mentions 20 genera, including 300 species. (Fig. 3.) 



5. MenispermaC83B, MENISPERMADS, or MOONSEEDS. Twining shrubs, common in 

 tropical countries. There are, according to LinSley, 44 known genera, and 302 species. 

 The properties of these plants are, in general, bitter and narcotic; some are tonic and 

 others poisonous. Among the former is the root of Cocculus palmalus, or Columba-root, 

 a valuable bitter tonic; among the poisonous species is Anamirta cocculus, the fruit of 

 which is known as Cocculus indicus 



6. Berberidaceae, BERBERIDS. Shrubs or herbaceous perennial plants, found chiefly 

 in the mountainous parts of the north temperate regions. Their properties are bitter 

 and acid. The bark and stem of the common Berberry supplies a yellow dye, and the 

 fruit is used as a preserve. Lindley gives 12 genera, and 100 species. 



7. Caboinbacese, WATERSHIELDS. American aquatic plants, with floating peltate 

 leaves. Their properties are slightly astringent. Lindley notices 2 genera, and 3 species. 



8. Nympliacese, WATERLILLIES. Aquatic plants, growing in quiet waters. These 

 plants are mostly confined to the northern hemisphere. The properties of some are 

 astringent and bitter, others are sedative, and some contain starch. Their flowers are 

 universally admired. Victoria regia, the beautiful lily of South America, is one of the 

 largest of known aquatics. Its odoriferous flowers are more than a foot in diameter, 

 and its leaves from four to six feet in diameter. Lindley notices 5 genera, and 50 

 species. (Fig. 4.) 



9. Nelumbiaceae, WATERBEANS. Aquatic herbs, with large and beautiful flowers. 

 Found in quiet waters, in both temperate and tropical regions, but most abundant in 



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