CLASS PENTANDRIA. 141 



a plant from tlie l^ew World, possessing extraordinary virtues. 

 The generic name, Nicotiana, is derived from Nicot^ the name 

 of the person who carried it to France. King James I. of 

 England had such a dislike to the fumes of this plant that he 

 wrote a pamphlet against its use, called " A Counter-blast to 

 Tobacco." It is highly narcotic, the excessive use of it pro- 

 ducing sleep, like opium. The oil of tobacco, when applied to 

 a wound, is said to be equally fatal as the poison of a viper. 



a. The Mandrake (Atropa inandragorct) was much used by 

 the ancients as an opiate ; they had many absurd notions re- 

 specting this plant ; they fancied in its roots, which are very 

 large and of a peculiar appearance, a resemblance to the human 

 form, and believed some judgment from heaven would follow 

 those who took them out of the ground. This superstition is 

 not more absurd than that which exists in Kew England among 

 the unenlightened, that " sowing fennel is sowing sorrow." The 

 Ateopa nnandrcigora must be distinguished from the American 

 mandrake or May-apple, which bears a fruit pleasant to the 

 taste and not poisonous ; its botanical name is Podophyllum ; 

 it is found in the class Polyandria. We see in this instance 

 the importance of botanical names. The common name, inan- 

 drake^ is given to two plants essentially different ; but by the 

 use of scientific naines there is no danger of one being taken 

 for the other by those who know any thing of botany. 



h. In this class is the very common roadside plant the mul 

 lein, well known by its general appearance ; it has a iive- 

 parted calyx, and wheel-shaped corolla with ^\q unequal di- 

 visions. The stamens are declined^ or turned downward, and 

 bearded. The capsule is two-celled and many-seeded. The 

 leaves are oblong^ acuminate^ and decurrent^ or with their bases 

 extending downward around the stem ; they are downy on 

 both sides. The flowers are arranged' along their stem in a 

 spike. The botanical name of the common mullein is Verbas- 

 cuM thapsus ; a species smaller and more delicate than the com- 

 mon mullein is often found in woods ; this is the moth mullein, 

 or Verbascum hlattaria. This genus is less active in its medici- 

 nal qualities than most others of the same family ; it is said to 

 possess anodyne properties, and to be intoxicating to fish.* 



186. Lysiinacliice or Prhmdacem.^ — The fifth class contains 

 in its first order a natural family with wheel-form corollas. Its 

 most important genus is the Lysimachia or Loose-strife (see 

 Fig. 134, a), several species of which may be found in blossom 

 in June and July, along the banks of little brooks and in low 



• Smith. f See Appendix, Plate vii. Fig. 0. 



a. Mandrake— What other plant has the saiie common name ?— 6. Describe the mullein — DiflTer- 

 ent species of Verbascum. — 18R. T.y»imacl\i«i. 



