Ch. XXI.] CLASSES AND ORDERS. 123 



using it as Americans do tobacco. Those who have read the 

 Lady of the Manor, Stories on the Church Catechism, and 

 other works of Mrs. Sherwood, as well as those of ot\ei vri- 

 ters on the manners and customs of the people of InJr*, w'l re- 

 collect the betel nut. 



CHAPTER XXL 



Class 3d Class 4=th. 



CLASS III. TRIANDRIA, three stamens. 



Order 1st, Monogynia, om pistil. 



521. This picture re}repen t\\ A 

 flowers of this class and order. At a 

 is a flower of the genus Ixia, (from 

 the Greek ixios, blue,) the common 

 name of which is blackberry-lily, 

 though the blackberry-lily common in 

 our gardens is of an orange colour ; at 

 b is the same flower cut lengthwise to 

 show the .three stamens ; this is not a 

 liliaceous flower, notwithstanding its 

 common name, as such flowers have 

 six stamens. Fig. 74, at c, represents 

 the Nardus, or mat-grass : this flower 

 differs from those of the common grass- 

 es in having but one pistil. 



522. The Crocus is among our earliest garden flowers ; its 

 &ame is derived from ancient Mythology, which pretended that 

 a youth of that name was transformed into this plant. 



523. The species of crocus called vernus (a name which sig- 

 nifies spring) sometimes appears as early as March, and often 

 springs up amidst surrounding snow banks ; it is of various co- 

 lours, purple, straw coloured, yellow, and variegated. This is a 

 nilbous plant, with linear leaves, a spatha calyx, and a corolla 

 of six petals. 



524. One species of the Crocus, the autumnalis, blossoms 

 late in autumn ; the large yellow stigmas, furnish the true saf- 

 fron which is sold by druggists. The plant commonly known 

 among us as the saffron, is a compound flower, and belongs tu 



5-21. What does Fig. 74 represent 7 



5*2-2. What is said of the Crocus with respect to the derivation of its 

 name 1 



5*23. Describe the Crocus vernus. 

 524. Describe the Crocus autumnalis, 



