602 



BOTANY. 



genus, namely, the Monnicra trifolia, an African 

 annual of no great beauty. 



The second order is HEXANDRIA, consisting of 

 plants bearing six stamens in two brotherhoods. This 

 order contains six genera, of which the common weed 

 fumitory is a good example. 



. The third order of this class is OCTANDRIA, con- 

 taining flowers having eight stamens in two sets. 

 This order comprises only four genera, of which the 

 beautiful milkwort is the most numerous and con- 

 spicuous. The common one of this country is one 

 of the most interesting ; found on chalk hills or other 

 dry placets. 



Diadelphia. 



Dccandria. Octandria. 



Order the fourth is DECANDRIA ; plants having ten 

 stamens united in two sets, usually nine together, and 

 one by itself above the others. The order contain* 

 the greater number of the leguminous plants, or such 

 as bear pods. They have all butterfly-shaped flowers ; 

 and comprise almost all our most useful kinds of 

 pulse, forage plants, dyes, and many beautiful and 

 valuable shrubs and trees. The pea, bean, tare, 

 indigo, are examples of the order. 



The eighteenth class is POLVADELPHIA, containing 

 all plants having their stamens arranged in many 

 brotherhoods. It is divided into two orders, and 

 contains twenty-one genera and one hundred and 

 eighty-seven species. 



Polyadelphia. 



Polyandria. Decandria. 



The first is DECANDRIA; flowers with ten stamens 

 in several distinct bundles or sets. Here are only 

 four genera, all tropical plants ; among them we find 

 the Tkeobroma, which yields the useful chocolate nut. 



The second order is POLYANDRIA, comprising 

 plants whose flowers have many stamens in many 

 distinct sets. This disposition of the parts on which 

 the order is founded, is exemplified in the St. John's 

 wort, a plant common in our fields as well as gardens. 

 And in green-houses the useful and beautiful fruit- 

 tree, the orange, affords a ready example. 



The nineteenth class of the Linnaean system is 

 SYNGENESIA, and contains all the compound flowers 

 or Composite of Jussieu. The meaning of the title 

 signifies to generate together : the seed-bearing florets 

 being all crowded together on the same base or 

 receptacle : or, more probably, from the circumstance 

 of the stamens being united in a cylinder, and sur- 

 rounding the style near its apex. The peculiar 

 arrangement by which syngenesious flowers are dis- 

 tinguished from all others is this, that besides the 

 union of the anthers, the flowers or florets, instead 

 of standing singly, are here congregated ; instead of 

 each having a calyx and receptacle, one calyx and 



one receptacle is common to the whole, whatever 

 that number may be. The whole together is called 

 the flower, as that of a daisy : the separate parts 

 composing the disk of it, are called florets. The 

 flower is supported on its exterior by a number of 

 scale-like leaves, by some called calyx, but by others 

 antfiodium, and mostly attached to the outer rim of the 

 receptacle, which bears the florets on its upper surface. 

 The florets however are not always perfect in them- 

 selves ; some of them are of two sexes, others, male, 

 or female, or neuter. On the difference of these in 

 position and character, the orders of the class are 

 founded. The florets are said to have a calyx which 

 is superior, and becomes the crown of the seed ; a 

 corolla which is of one petal and superior -, the limb 

 campanulate, or ligulate ; stamens five, filaments 

 inserted into the tube of the floret ; anthers united by 

 their margins in all bisexual florets ; germen inferior, 

 being a naked seed crowned with the other parts ; 

 style erect ; stigma in two parts, each revolute and 

 divergent ; seed single, either naked, or crowned 

 with the calyx, or with a pappus to assist the disper- 

 sion. The dandelion and thistle are familiar examples. 

 This class contains two hundred and seventy-seven 

 genera, and two thousand six hundred and fifty 

 species. 



Syngenesia. 



Superflua. .-Equalis. 



The first order is ^EQUALIS in which all the florets 

 are of two sexes. This is a very extensive order and 

 contains many very common plants, as the sowthistle, 

 lettuce, hawkweed, burdock, artichoke, &c., &c. 

 The chief part of them are herbs, and many are 

 annuals. 



The second order is SUPERFLUA, here we find 

 plants the flowers of which have the florets of the disk 

 bisexual, and those forming the rays female, but which 

 are impregnated by the anthers of the disk. This 

 circumstance was considered by Linnaeus as superflu- 

 ous, and hence the title. This is also a very large 

 order, and contains many useful as well as beautiful 

 plants. Of the first tansy and chamomile are exam- 

 ples, of the second the helichrysums, xeranthemum^ 

 and dahlias. 



Syngenesia. 



Necessaria. Frustranea. 



The third order is FRUSTRANEA, so called because 

 the florets of the disk are bisexual, and those in the 

 ray or margin neuter. These last, having sometimes 

 the rudiments of a pistillum.but no other sexual organ, 

 are said to be ineffectual or frustrated polygamy. 



