246 CLASS MONADELPHIA. 



others appearing like the laurel. They sustain themselves by 

 means of undivided tendrils ; and send out a succession of the 

 most curious and splendid flowers, of which.no other part of 

 the world offers any counterpart."* Of this genus a number 

 of species produce fruits of great excellence ; this fruit in 

 South America is called Purchas. Sixty species of this genus 

 are collected at the Linnocan garden near New York.f The 

 generic characters of the passion-flower are a 5 parted, co- 

 loured calyx, 5 petals inserted upon the calyx, 5 stamens and 

 3 pistils, the nectary, a triple crown of filaments. The very 

 singular appearance of this flower in the arrangement of its 

 stamens in the form of a cross, and its triple crown, has sug- 

 gested the idea of its being emblematic of the passion or suffer- 

 ing of our Saviour ; this idea is supposed to have given rise to 

 its name. 



This plant was at one time placed in the class Gynandria, 

 upon the supposition that its stamens stood upon the pistil. An 

 English botanist^ thinks it should be placed in the class Pen- 

 tandria, and order Trigynia. Its situation in the class and 

 order under which we have described it, is, however, that 

 generally assigned it by American botanists. 



In this order is also placed the stork's bill geranium (Erodi- 

 um), it is an exotic, and belongs to the natural family Gerania. 



Heptandria. 



The Seventh Order contains the genus Pelargonium ; this 

 belongs to the family Geranise ; this genus includes the greater 

 number of green-house Geraniums ; it is taken from the tenth 

 order and placed 'here, because, although its flowers have 10 

 filaments, but 7 of them bear anthers, or they have but 7 

 perfect stamens. The flower of this genus is somewhat 

 irregular. Among the varieties of the Pelargonium now 

 cultivated in the United States, are, 



The Fairy queen geranium, with striped flowers, large and handsome leaves. 



The Fiery flowered, with cordate leaves, and black and scarlet flowers. 



The Balm scented, with leaves deeply five lobed, the flowers dark red and 

 black. 



The Grandiflorum, has an erect stem, little branched, with smooth leaves 

 from five to seven lobed ; as its name implies, the flowers are large. 



The Large bracted, has an erect stem ; lea\ PS cordate or heart-shaped, flowers 

 large and white, with some streaks of purple. 



Frequent flowering, or fish, a shrubby, brown stem, with flat, cordate, five 

 lobed leaves, and red flowers, with spots of black and deep rod. 



Peppermint scented, or Velvet leaved, a shrubby stem, much branched ; leaves 

 cordate, five lobed, soft to the touch like velvet, flowers small, white, and 

 purple. 



*Nuttall. t See Prince's Horticulture. | Smith. 



Different species Generic character and name Stork' s-bill geranium Pe- 

 largonium Different geraniums. 



