SPINDLE-TREE TRIBE. 133 



with two bracts about the middle, single flowered ; root 

 toothed. AIL elegant little plant, with delicate drooping 

 clover-like leaves, and white or lilac veined flowers, 

 growing abundantly in woods and shady places. The 

 leaves, though not so sensitive as some foreign species, 

 fold together at night. This plant is supposed by many 

 to be the true shamrock which was used by St. Patrick 

 to illustrate familiarly the doctrine of the Trinity. FL 

 May, June. Perennial. 



* 0. corniculata (Yellow Wood- Sorrel) has a prostrate 

 stem and small yellow flowers. It occurs only in the 

 West of England, and is by no means so pretty a plant 

 as the last. 



SUB-CLASS II. 

 CALYCIFLOE^:. 



Sepals distinct or . united ; petals distinct ; stamens 

 inserted on the calyx, or close to its base. 



ORDER XXIII. CELASTBACE^E. SPINDLE-TREE 

 TRIBE. 



Sepals 4 5, imbricated when in bud, inserted on a 

 fleshy disk ; petals equal in number to the sepals ; 

 stamens equal in number to the petals, and alternate 

 with them; ovary sunk in the disk, 2 5 celled ; fruit 

 either a capsule of 2 5 cells, opening with valves, or 

 berry-like ; seeds often wrapped in a covering distinct 

 from the capsule (called an arillus). A rather large 

 number of plants are included in this order ^ but not 

 many of great interest. They are natives of the warmer 

 parts of Europe, North America, and Asia, and a great 

 number inhabit the Cape of Good Hope. A few also 

 occur in Chili, Peru, and New Holland. Many of them 



