158 



HEPTAXDRIA. 



employed in India as an artificial shade, when it is drawn into a frame, and water thrown 

 upon and air driven through it so as to produce a low temperature and an aromatic 

 odour. 



The genera having the greatest number of species are the Juncus or Rush, and 

 the Luzula or Wood-rush, under which terms are comprehended most of the Rushes 

 growing in fresh and salt water in this country. They comprehend thirty-seven 

 genera. 



The orders Digynia and Polygynia have but one genus Oxyria in the former, and 

 Alisma Plantago or the "Water Plaintan in the latter. In the order Trigynia we find 

 five genera, two of which are worthy of mention : the Colchicum Autumnale, with 



Fig. 316. 

 Hexandria Polygynia. 



Fig. 317. 

 Hexandria Trygynia. 



Fig. 315. 

 Hexandria Monogynia. 



Fig. 318. 

 Hexandria Digynia. 



its beautiful flower and medicinal cormus, and the common Rumex or Dock, and 

 Rumex Acetosa and Acetosella, the common and the Sheep's Sorrel. The latter 

 class of plants have no corolla. 



Thus, whilst a few of the members of this class are worthless weeds, many others 

 form the choicest parts of the coUections of the horticulturists, and have obtained more 

 attention in their cultivation and improvement than almost any other native plants. 

 They comprehend nearly all our native flowering endogenous plants. 



CLASS VII. HEPTANDRIA. 

 This class possesses but one genus, the elegant European Chickweed Winter-green 



