228 FIRST STEPS IN GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. 



wild cornel* is the dog-wood, whose deep-red 

 branches, clusters of white flowers, and large 

 leaves turning red in autumn, make it so con- 

 spicuous a shrub in hedges. The bark of several 

 American species of this plant has a great reputa- 

 tion as a tonic, and is said to answer the purpose 

 of Peruvian bark in intermittent fevers. But these 

 tribes of small trees, or shrubs, must not detain 

 us, for I have now to dwell 

 for a few moments on 

 three tribes which resem- 

 ble each other in having 

 no petals, as well as in 

 other more important bo- 

 tanical particulars : they 

 are the SANDALWORTS 

 one producing the sandal- 

 wood of commerce; the 

 LORANTHS, a tribe of para- 

 sites, one of which is our 

 common mistletoe ; and 

 the BIRTHWORTS, curious 

 plants, of which you may 

 COMMON MISLETOK. fi n( j one specimen in the 



* Cornus sanguined. 



