138 CLASS TETEANDRIA. 



these are four in nnmber. The normal number, four, is well 

 retained in the parts of this flower. 



At (?, Fig. 133, is the Cissus^'^' or fiilse grape ; its calyx is 

 very small ; petals spreading and reflexed ; filaments shorter 

 than the petals, and crowned with large cordate anthers. 



180. The Bed-straw {Galium) is an herbaceous j^lant, with 

 very small white flowers ; the leaves grow in whorls. In dif- 

 ferent species, the leaves thus clustered together stand around 

 the stem iwfours^fives^ sixes, and eiglits. Some species exhibit 

 a j)eculiar roughness uj^on the stems and leaves. This genus 

 was placed by Linnaeus in a natural, order, called Stellatce (from 

 Stella, a star) ; the leaves radiating from the stem, as rays of 

 light from a star. Among the exotics of this class are the 

 Santalum, which produces the sandal-ivood, and the Madder 

 (HuBiA tinctoria), the root of which gives a beautiful scarlet 

 color : it is said to have the singular property of tinging, with 

 its red color, the bones of the animals that feed upon it. Jus- 

 sieu arranged this, with the Cornus and some other Tetran- 

 drous plants, under the natural order Kubiacese, which is re- 

 tained by the later botanists. The Silver-tree (Pkotea argen- 

 tea) has soft leaves resembling satin, of a silver color. Another 

 species of Protea, the aurecb or golden, has gold-colored leaves 

 edged with scarlet. Both these trees are natives of the Cape 

 of Good Hope, and have never been found in any other locality. 



181. Order Digynia, tico pistils. — Hama^ij:lis, a shrub from 

 six to twelve feet high, is found in woods throughout the Uni- 

 ted States. Its flowers are yellow, and grow in axillary clus- 

 ters. This plant is often seen by the road-sides on the skirts 

 of woods, and may be known from the fact of its being in 

 blossom after it has lost its leaves, in autumn, and even in 

 winter. The fruit is perfected in the spring: its common 

 name, Witch-hazel, probably originated from the superstitious 

 idea which was long entertained that a twig from this tree, 

 called a divining-rod, in the hands of particular individuals 

 had the property of being attracted toward gold or silver 

 buried in the earth. Some botanists, however, ascribe the 

 common name of this plant to its peculiarity as to the mode 

 of blooming. By De Candolle and Lindley this genus is taken 

 from the order Berberides, of Jussieu, and stands as the type 

 of the order HamamelacecB. 



182. Order Tetragynia, three pistils. — The holly {Ilex) is an 



* Mirbel thus names the plant whose flower is here described, and places it in the class Tetrandria. 

 Eaton describes it nnder the name of Ampelopsis, and places it in the class Pentandria. Although 

 it may occasionally be found with five stamens, its four petals and four divisions of the calyx seem to 

 indicate that the fifth stamen is but an accidental circumstance ; this seems to have been the opinion 

 of Mirbel. 



Cissus.— 180. Bed-straw— What plants are placed in Linna'us's natural order Stellata; and Jusaieu* 

 order Rnbiacex ?— Madder— I'rotea.— 181. Hamamelis.— 182. Ilex. 



