154 CLASS OCTAKDRIA. 



209. The Daphne is a rare plant ; one species is called the 

 lace-bark tree, from the resemblance of its inner bark, or liber,, 

 to lace ; it consists of layers which may be drawn out into a 

 fine white web, three or four feet wide ; Charles I. of Eng- 

 land was presented by the governor of Jamaica with a cravat 

 made of this web. The plant is a native of the West Indies. 

 The Nasturtion {Trojxeolum) is a very commonly cultivated 

 exotic. The divisions are not four or eight, as we might ex- 

 pect from its eight stamens, but the calyx is either four or five- 

 parted, and the corolla is five-petaled. In some cases the num- 

 ber of stamens has been known to vary, and abortive petals ap 

 pear. Tlie fruit consists of three seeds ; w^hen green they are 

 used for pickles. " The generic name {TropcBolum) signifies a 

 trojyliy-jplant ; this aUudes to its use for decorating triumphal 

 arches, or to the resemblance of its peltate leaves to shields, 

 as well as its flowers' to golden helmets pierced through and 

 stained with blood."^ It was first observed by the daughter 

 of Linnaeus, that these flowers sometimes emit electrical light. 



210. Order Digynia^ tivo pistils. — Containing the Chrysos- 

 2?le7iiiim^ of the natural order Saxifragacece. The ovary con- 

 sists of two carpels ; number of stamens sometimes variable, 

 petals wanting. 



211. Order Trigynia. — Contains the Buckwheat {Polygo- 

 num). The genus is extensive, containing many common 

 weeds, as knot-grass, bind-weed, &c. The fagopyrum is the 

 true buckwheat ; the meal obtained by grinding its seed ip. 

 much esteemed for griddle-cakes. The Polygonum is variable 

 in its number of stamens ; the seed is a triangular nut. This 

 genus is the type of the natural order Polygonaceae^ having 

 flowers with no corollas, and a calyx usually colored; including 

 the dock and sorrel plants. 



212. Order Tetragynia. — We here find the beautiful plant, 

 Paris, said to have been named after a prince of ancient Troy, 

 remarkable for his beauty. In every part of the flower the num- 

 bers four and eight 2:)revail in the di\asions. It has eight sta- 

 mens, four pistils, four petals, four sepals, a four-sided and four- 

 celled pericarp, which contains eight seeds, and in one species 

 four large spreading leaves, at a little distance below the flower. 

 The color of the whole plant is green. Properties narcotic. 

 JN'ative of England. This genus belongs to the natural order 

 Trilliacece^ distinguished for beautiful and regular flowers. The 

 Ti'illium is as remarkable for its divisions by threes., as is the 

 Paris i(dY fours. 



• Sir J. E. Smith, 

 209. Lace-bark tree— Nasturtion.— 210. Second order.— 211. Third order.— 212. Fourth order. 



