130 



CLASS DIANDRIA. 



first view, suppose the corolla to consist 

 of several petals, but if we attempt to pnll 

 them out, they will all come oil together, 

 and we perceive there is but one piece, 

 or that it is monopetalous.* .In flowers 

 of one petal, the stamens generally adhere 

 to the corolla ; where there are several 

 petals, the stamens are mostly attached 

 to the receptacle. In the lilac the two 

 stamens are opposite, adhering to the 

 corolla. The form in which the blossoms 

 are crowded together, forming a large 

 bunch, is called a thyrse. 



Fig. 129, a, represents a flower of the lilac; at h is the same, cut lengthwise to 

 show the two stamens. The lilac, although so common with us, is an exotic ; the 

 species most cultivated are the vulgaris, which has heart-shaped leaves, and the 

 persica, or Persian, with narrower leaves. The prim, or privet {Lignstrum), is 

 found growing wild in some parts of New England ; though, in general, it is seefi 

 but little in the United States except when cultivated. It is planted for fences : 

 as it grows rapidly, it soon becomes useful for this purpose, and with its green 

 leaves and white flowers, gives to the farms an air of neatness and taste. . 



The Sage {Salvia) on account of the form of the corolla be- 

 longs to the natural family of the labiate flowers; such plants 

 are mostly of tlie class Didynamia, having fouT stannens^ two 

 long and two short; but in some cases the labiate flowers 

 have but two stamens : this circumstance, according to the Lin- 

 nsean classification, separates them from their natural family. 

 Two abortive stamens may be observed in this plant, and 

 it should undoubtedly be placed, with other Labiate plants, 

 in the class Didynamia. The species commonly cultivated is 

 the officinalis^ a shrub-like, perennial plant ; to this we give 

 more particularly the name of sage. Another species of the 

 same genus is the sclara^ called Clarry ; this has larger and 

 broader leaves than the common sage : it is cultivated for its 

 medicinal properties. A very small plant called Enchanter's 

 night-shade {Circaia^ Fig. 129, d) may be found growing wild 

 in shady places. It has a small white blossom, in the parts of 

 which uniformity as to number may be observed ; it has two 

 stamens^ a corolla with tioo jpetals^ a calyx with two sepals^ cap- 

 sule with two cells^ each of which contains two seeds. 



168. Symmetry of structuTe observable in the plants de- 

 scribed is now considered as a law of nature, and when 

 not to be found the case is regarded as a departure from the 



* Gamopetalous (petals united) is the term now applied to such corollas, as it is found they are lu 

 reality composed of different pieces cohering together. 



Prim — Sage — Enchanter's uight-sbade.- 



Symmetry of structure. 



