CLASS HEXANDRIA. 147 



times used by dyers ; the wood and bark of some of its species 

 are a tonic bitter. This genus is placed in the natural order 

 RanunaulacecB. 



b. Our explanation of the class Pentandria has necessarily been somewhat tedious, 

 on account of the number and importance of the plants which it contains, few of 

 which, in comparison with the whole, we have been able to notice. We do not, 

 however, expect to make practical botanists by introducing to the student a few 

 interesting plants ; — this can only be done by gathering flowers and examining 

 them according to those rules of analysis whicli we have endeavored to explain in 

 the most simple manner. Those who study flowers will read descriptive botany 

 with pleasure and profit — otherwise, to httle advantage. Sciences may be unfolded, 

 every facility which books and teaching can give may be placed before the youth- 

 ful mind, but that mind must itself be active, or the germs of knowledge will no 

 more take root and expand than the seeds of plants would vegetate if thrown upon 

 the bare surface of a granite rock. 



LECTUKE XXYII. 



HEXANDRIA, SIX STA^IENS. HEPTANDRIA, SEVEN STAMENS. 



195. Hexandria. — Of all the Artificial classes none presents 

 us with so great a number of splendid genera as this ; most of 

 them are distinguished by bulbous roots, monocotijledonoiis 

 seeds^ and endogenous stems ; the palms and some other plants 

 of this class have Jlhro us roots in connection with the last two 

 characters which are inseparable ; the structure of the stem or 

 the manner of its growth depends on the structure of the seed. 



196. Order Monogynict^ one pistil. — ^The natural order Lilia- 

 ceae comprehends not only the lily, but the tulip, crown-impe- 

 rial, hyacinth, and many other of our most beautiful exotics, as 

 well as many native plants. The liliaceous flowers have no' 

 calyx ; the perianth, colored and petal-like, is usually called the 

 corolla. The number of stamens is generally six, sometimes 

 but three ; in the latter case the plant'is in the class Triandria : 

 the stamens are opposite the divisions of the corolla ; anthers 

 introrse ; germ triangular, three-celled, superior ; leaves paral- 

 lel-veined. The fibrous roots connected with bulbs, tubers, oi 

 rhizomes, are now ranked as subterranean stems. 



a. Pliny says the " lily is next in nobility to the rose."* Linnaeus called the 

 liliaceous flowers " Nobles of the vegetable kingdom ;" he also called the palm- 



" lAlium nobilitate proximum est." A French poet, in the following lines, gi\'es the lily a rank 

 above the rose. 



" Nohle fils du soleil, le lys majesteux. 

 Vers I'astre paternal (iont il brave ies feux 

 Eleve avec or>;neil sa tete souveraine ; 

 II est roi des fleurs, la rose est la reine." 



Raiiunculacea;— Remarks.— 195. Class Hexandria— Natural characters which distinguish plants ol 

 this class. — 196. Liliacea;— Lily — Proportion as to numbers. 



