BOTANY. 479 



plants. The Belladonna, Stramonium, and Dulcamara, are 

 active poisons, while the potatoe, of the same family with the 

 two former, and of the same genus with the latter, originally 

 from America, forms an essential part of food all over Europe. 

 Almost all the Gentiancc are tonic and useful in medi- 

 cine. The Ericaceae are cultivated for the verdure and beau- 

 ty of their foliage and the permanence of their flowers. The 

 Corymbiferce are bitter and resinous, and many species are 

 employed in medicine. Among the Rubiacece is the Quin- 

 quina or Jesuit's Bark, and the coffee-tree. The roots, the 

 leaves, and the seeds of the Umbelliferce furnish useful arti- 

 cles in medicine and domestic economy. Among the Ranun- 

 culacece, some are esteemed for the beauty of their flowers, and 

 others are used officinally. Opium is the product of one spe- 

 cies of Papaveracece, (Papaver somniferum.) Among the 

 Cruciferce the turnip may be mentioned as one of the most 

 useful species ; and the Hesperidece includes the orange and 

 lemon. The vine is the most useful plant among the Sarmen- 

 tacece. The Geranidece are cultivated for the beauty of their 

 flowers and foliage. The Malvacece afford a mucilaginous juice 

 employed in medicine; and to this family belongs the shrub which 

 produces cotton. The CaryophyllecK are admired for the beauty 

 of their flowers and their perfume ; one species of Linum fur- 

 nishes the material for linen, and the expressed oil of the seeds 

 a useful ingredient in the arts. To the Rosacece belong the most 

 agreeable fruits, as the apple, pear, apricot, &c. ; and the Legu- 

 minosce, next to the grasses, furnish the greatest quantity of ve- 

 getable food. The Terebinthacece produce resinous matters 

 known by the name of balms ; the Euphorbiacece an acrid cor- 

 rosive juice ; and to the Cucurbitacece belong the melon and cu- 

 cumber. The UrticecB afford mucilaginous and sweet fruits, 

 as the fig, the bread-fruit tree, the hop, hemp, and pepper ; the 

 Amentacece include many of the largest and most useful trees ; 

 and the Coniferce comprehend those trees which retain their 

 leaves in winter and produce a resinous wood, applied extensive- 

 ly to use in various constructions. 



In merely noticing a few of the families producing the more 

 important substances which have been adapted to use, it is 

 by no means to be understood that those not mentioned are of 

 little or no importance in the economy of Nature. All are 



