GLOSSARY. 



mal system, which absorb the 

 lymph or moisture. 



Magnesia, one of the earths, having, 

 as with other earths, a metalic base 

 magnesium. 



Malic Acid, commonly obtained from 

 apples and other fruit. 



Macerate, to steep, make lean. 



Maritime. Growing near the sea. 



Metalic salts are composed of an acid 

 and metals. See salts. 



Medulla. Pith or pulp of vegetables. 

 Centre or heart. 



Medullary, like marrow, pulpy, pithy. 



Membranous or Membranaceous. Very 

 thin and delicate. 



Miasma, poisonous particles arising 

 from putrifying substances, etc. 



Microscopic, belonging to a micro- 

 scope, an arrangement of magnify, 

 ing glasses ; to be seen only with 

 the microscope. 



Midrib. Middle rib of a leaf, running 

 from the stem to the apex. 



Morphia, a vegetable alkali from 

 opium, constituting its narcotic prin- 

 ciple ; it forms salts with acids, as 

 nitrate of morphia, etc. 



Molar es. Back teeth, grinders. 



Monadelphous. Having stamens united 

 in a tube at the base. 



Monilliform. Granulate, strung to- 

 gether like beads. 



Monocephalous. (From mono, one, 

 and kephale, head.) Applied to per- 

 icarps, which have but one summit, 

 as wheat, while the geum and ane- 

 mone have as many as they have 

 styles ; they are polycephalous. 



Monocotyledonous. Having but one 

 cotyledon. 



Monoecious. Having pistillate and 

 staminate flowers on the same plant. 



Monopetalous. The corolla in one 

 piece. 



Monophyllous. Consisting of one leaf. 



Monocepalous . A calyx of one leaf or 

 sepal. 



Monospermus. One seed to a flower. 



Montanus. Growing on mountains. 



Mosses. The second order of the class 

 Cryptogamia. 



Mucous, slime, thick tenacious sub- 

 stance of membranes. Mucilage., 

 gum. Mucilaginous, partaking of 

 gum, etc. 



Multiflorus. Many-flowered. 



Narcotic. (From narco, to stupify.) 

 Having the power ofprocuring sleep, 

 as opium. 



Natural character. That which is ap- 

 parent, without reference to any 

 particular method of classification. 



Neutralize, to make indifferent, to 

 destroy bad qualities. Neutral com,' 

 pounds. See salts. 



Nectary. (From nectar, the fabled 

 drink of the gods.) The part of a 

 flower which produces honey. 



Nitrogen or azote, a simple elementary 

 substance, usually combined in the 

 formation of solids and liquids, but 

 is found in its gaseous state in the 

 composition of the atmosphere, of 

 which it composes 71 of the 100 

 parts. 



Nitre, a salt formed of nitric acid, 

 (aquafortis,) and potash, commonly 

 called salt-petre. Nitrates are thus 

 formed of this acid and any other 

 base. 



Nucleus. Nut, or kernel. 



Obovate. Ovate with the narrower end 

 towards the stem, or place of inser- 

 tion. 



Obtuse. Blunt, rounded, not acute. 



OjHicinalis. Such plants as are kept 

 for sale as medicinal, or for use in 

 the arts. 



Opposite. Standing against each other 

 on opposite sides of the stem. 



Orbicular. Circular. 



Organism, the state of organization, 

 the organs of a body, organic struc- 

 ture. 



Ovary. Germ, egg, part impregnated. 



Ovate. Egg-shaped, oval with the 

 lower end largest. 



Oviparous. Animals produced from 

 eggs, as birds, &c. Ovum, an egg. 



Ovules. Little eggs : rudiments of 

 fruit or seeds before its fertilization. 



Oleagenous, oily, like oil, oleous. 



Omnivorous, all-devouring, eating ani- 

 mal and vegetable food. 



Oxalic acid, a compound of the juice 

 of sorrel, &c. and oxygen ; this acid 

 combined with any base, forms oxa~ 

 lates. 



Oxide, a compound of oxygen with an- 

 other substance, as any of the metals 



