USES OF PLANTS. 145 



ported from China into Europe, about a hundred years ago, also 

 belongs to the family of Synanthe'rea3. 



The family of Caryophi'llese presents our gardens with dif- 

 ferent species of carnations or pinks, known under the name of 

 common pink, china pink, &c. The family of Legumino'sae 

 gives us aca'cia, the sweet pea, &c. 



We have seen that a great many plants afford to man whole- 

 some and abundant food ; that others are violent poisons to him, 

 but very many even of the latter are useful, because when pru- 

 dently administered they constitute powerful medicines. 



A great number of plants of the family of Sola'nese are of 

 this kind; for example, belladonna, henbane, stramonium, to- 

 bacco ; some species of the family of Papavera'ceaB, such as the 

 poppies ; and hemlock, which belongs to the Umbelli'ferce, &c. &c. 

 In our citation of poisonous plants, we must not omit the mush- 

 rooms, the history of which we have already given. 



13 



