VARIETIES. 31 



the flower. Plants which differ in these respects 

 only are called Varieties ; and if you compare these 

 three different-coloured Crocuses, you will pro- 

 bably find that they agree in the leaves and other 

 parts, which, I told you, were to be attended to, in 

 distinguishing species. The different parts of plants 

 have, generally, peculiar colours. The root is 

 commonly black, white, or brown; seldom yellow, 

 or red, but never green. The stem and leaves 

 are commonly green ; and rarely blue, yellow, or 

 red. The calyx is generally green, but with 

 some exceptions ; that of the Daph'ne Laure'ola, 

 Spurge Laurel, is yellow, and the blossom green ; 

 the calyx of the Fuch'sia coecin'ea, scarlet Fuchsia, 

 is a bright scarlet, and the petals in the centre of 

 the richest purple. Corollas have almost every 

 colour; but are rarely green, and scarcely ever 

 black. The black spot in the blossom of the com- 

 mon garden Bean is the darkest colour I have 

 ever seen in any plant. Now bring in a Crocus, 

 and I will read you a description of it. [PLATE 4.] 

 You perceive that it has three stamens, and one 

 pistil : what class and order then does it belong to ? 



EDWARD. 

 To the class Triandria, and order Monogynia, 



MOTHER. 

 Very well. Now look at it as you did at the 



