AGROSTEM'MA GITHA'GO EXAMINED. 117 



MOTHER. 



Here is the plant which I have brought in this 

 morning to examine. [PLATE 12.] Can you tell 

 me its class and order ? 



EDWARD. 



It must be in the tenth class, Decandria, and 

 the order Pentagynia ; for it has ten stamens, and 

 five pistils. 



MOTHER. 



Very well ; now compare it with this descrip- 

 tion : " Calyx, a cup of one leaf, of a texture 

 " something like that of leather, with five sharp 

 " divisions ; blossom composed of five petals ; the 

 " lower parts of the petals, which are called Claws, 

 " as long as the tube of the cup ; border of the 

 " blossom spreading out. The filaments are awl- 

 " shaped, and the styles of the pistils thread- 

 " shaped, as long as the stamens, with undivided 

 " summits." This is the generic character of 

 Agrostem'ma, and you see it answers very well. 

 There is but one species native : the specific cha- 

 racter consists in the whole plant being hairy; the 

 cup having ten ribs, with divisions reaching beyond 

 the blossom ; and the petals being undivided, and 

 without down or hair. The English name of the 

 plant is Corn-Cockle, and the botanical name 

 Agrostem'ma Githa'go. 



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