22 TETRANDRIA. MONOGYNIA.. 



70. SANGUISORBA. Nidt. Gen. 161. 



[Lat. Slanguis, blood, and sorbeo, to absorb; from its supposed efficacy in stanching li^morrhage. J 



Cal. inferior, 2 leaved, resembling bractes. Cor. superior, rotate, 4 cleft. Caps. 4 angled, 2 celled. 



S. CANABEivsis. Ell. Spilccs cjlindric, long; stamens very long; leaves unequally pinnate; leaflets serrate. 

 Viilgo—Bumet Saxifrage. 



JR. Latter end of August. Fr. mat- Beginning of October. 



Hab. Low, wet meadows: Chester creek; Brandywine: not common. About 2 feet high: flowers white. 

 05s. I am not fully satisfied of the propriety of removing this genus into the order Bigynia, as has beeS' 

 done by Mx. Pursh, Nuttall, &c.— and have therefore followed Mr. Elliott, in retaining it here. 



b. Corolla none. 



71. STMPLOCARPUS. Nntt. Gen. 157. 



[Gr. Sympl»ke, connexion, and A^cr^jos, fruit; descriptive of that portion of the fructification-] 



' Spathe cucullate. Spadix covered with flowers. Cal- deeply 4 parted, persistent, becoming thick & spongy. 



S. FcETiDA. Bart. Fl. Phil. Leaves ovate-cordate, enlarging; spadix pedunculate, oblong-oval. 



Synon. Dracontium fcstidum. IVilld. Pothos fcetida. Mx. k. Ph. Vulgo — Swamp-cabbage. Skunk-weed. 



Fl- Beginning of March. Fr. mat. Latter end of September. 



Ilab. Swamps; shaded springs, and rivulets; common. No stem: full grown leaves near 2 feet high. 



Ohs. This plant is notorious for the pole-cat-like odor which it emits, when wounded. The fleshy root, 

 when chewed, causes a severe tingling, or pricking sensation, in the tongue and lips. It is a curious circum- 

 stance that this plant, which seems so obviously Tetrandrous, should have been arranged by Willdenow 

 ia Heptandria; by Michaux in Alonwcia; and by Pursh in Polyandria. 



72. HAMAMELIS. Nutt. Gen. 160. 

 [The derivation of this name is obscure, and unsatisfactory. See De Theis.^ 



Invob'xre 3 leaved. Cal. 4 cleft, persistent. Cor. petals 4, long, Unear. Aru< 2 horned, 2'celled- 

 S. viRGiNicA. Bart. Fl- Phil. Leaves obovate and oval, rather unequal at base, sinuate-dentate. 

 Vulgo — Witch-Haale. 



Fl. JNiiddie of October, and after. Fr. mat. September, the succeeding year! 



Hab. Borders of moist woodlands; banks of rivulets, &c. frequent- 8 to 12 feet high: flowers greenigh yellovr. 



Obs. The flowers of this singular shrub appear after it has shed its leaves in autumn; and continue 

 through the greater part of winter, apparently unaffected by the cold. Possibly this anomaly may have 

 givim rise to some of the absurd notions, respecting: its magical virtues, which still infest a few of the cred- 

 aioiis. 



§5> For CubCUTA> or dodder,— See class Pentandvia. 



73. ILEX. Nutt. Gen. 163. 

 fEtymo'io^y obscure: Boerhaave says, "a voce hebraica, Elon, quod significat quercum.^-] 



Po.'!/g-amoMs: Cal. minute, 4 or 5 toothed. Con. rotate, 4 parted. Style 0. Stigmas i. Berry 4 ecedeal. 



I. OFACA. JM:i.\ Arb. Leaves oval, with rigid, spreading, spinous teeth; fruit ovate, bright red. 



Synon. I. aquifolium. Marshall. Vulgo — American Holly. 



Fl. Middle of June. Fr. mat. 



Mub. Woodlands: Barrens; Forks of Brandywine: rare. 10 to 20 feet high: flowers whitish. 



Obs. This handsome evergreen tree is of small growth with us, very rare, and v.'hen found, is usually 

 transpl.inted about houses, as an ornament. It is said that Birdlime may b§ extracted from the bark; for tiie 

 mode of preparing whlcii, See 3'Ix. arbns. forest, vol. 2, ^j. 193. 



74. POTAMOGETON. Nutt. Gen. 166. 

 [Gr. Polamos, rivers and Gciton, neighbor; from its usual place of growth.] 



Cal. 4 leaved. Cor. 0. Slyle 0. Stigmas 4. Seeds 4, naked. 



P. xArATvs. Mr. Leaves sublanceolate-oval, floating, on Ici-o" petioles: spikes assurgeat. 

 F«7;fo— Floating Pond-weed. 



Fl. Middle of July, and after. Fr. mat. Middle of September. 



Hub. Ponds, creeks, and rivulets: common. 9 to IS inches long: flowers dull green. 

 Obs. Like matt aquatics, it accomiajedateu itself to the depth of water in Tvliich it grows. 



