146 VISCACE2E. 



jig. 1), and Linnsea of the lell-sJiaped ; the Primrose (Plate 

 XIV., fig. 3), and Anchusa (Plate XII., fia. 14), of the salver- 

 shaped; the Honeysuckle (Plate X., fig. 3), of the tubular; 

 the Bindweed (Plate XII., fig. 11), of the funnel-shaped ; the 

 Salvia (Plate XIII., fig. 8), Thyme, Mint, Dead Nettles, and 

 Ground Ivy (Plate XIII., fig. 9), of the labiate; and the 

 Snapdragon (Plate XIIL,fig. 5), of the gaping-shape. This is 

 the largest order of British plants, and many of our favourite 

 flowers are contained in it. 



The first order in the Corolla subclass is that of the Mistletoe 

 (Viscum album, Plate X., fig. 1). Our one representative of 

 this tribe is the well-known evergreen which holds so prominent 

 a place in our Christmas festivities. It has its stamens and 

 pistils on different flowers. Its seed is enveloped in a slimy 

 covering, and is able, by its own adhesiveness, to remain fixed 

 to the branches of trees. There is no calyx, and the corolla is 

 four-cleft. The flowers and berries are both white. Plants of 

 this tribe abound in tropical lands, adorning the trees, on which 

 they live parasitically, with clusters of gay-coloured flowers. 



Our interest in the Mistletoe is derived from ancient custom 

 and habit. The Teutons had a great veneration for this plant. 

 They held a curious tradition regarding it, which ran thus : 

 " One day Balder told his mother, Friga, that he should die. 

 Friga conjured the elements, earth, air, fire and water, metals, 

 maladies, trees, animals, and serpents, that they should do no 

 evil to her son; and her conjurations were so powerful that 

 nought could resist them. Balder, therefore, went to the 

 combat of the gods, and fought in the midst of showers of 

 arrows without fear. Loake, his enemy, wished to know the 

 reason ; he took the form of an old woman, and sought out 

 Friga. He addressed her thus : ' In the midst of our fight 

 the arrows and rocks fall on your son without hurting him ! ' 

 ' I believe it,' replied Friga, ' all those substances are sworn 

 to me. Nothing in nature can hurt him, except one little plant, 

 growing on the bark of the Oak, with scarcely any root. I 



