160 



AND DECANDRIA. 



and Maple; Vaccinium Vitis-idsea, or Cowberry ; Vaccinium oxycoccus, or Cranberry , 

 Vaccinium myrtillus, or Bilberry, with Daphne Mezereum, or Mezereum, and Poly- 

 gonium, both of which possess valuable medicinal properties. The last-named plant 

 belongs to the order Trigynia ; and three others, Adoxa, Paris, and Elatine are ranged 

 under the order Tetragynia. The Epilobium is the most abundant and fruitful in species ? 

 having nine, which inhabit either dry or moist localities. It is probable that the whole 

 class must be regarded as possessed of irritating properties. 



CLASS IX. ENNEANDRIA. 



This class, like Heptandria, contains but one 

 genus and one species, the beautiful Butomus 

 Umbellata, or flowering Rush, growing in ditches 

 and the borders of stagnant waters. It has six 

 pistils ; and, consequently, the sole order in the 



class Enneandria is Hexagynia. 



Fig. 325. Enneandria Hexagynia. 



CLASS X. DECANDRIA. 



This is a well-defined class of plants, the members of which are, for the most part, 

 fitly associated together. They have ten stamens, and two, three, or five pistils, 

 and consist of twenty-one genera and one hundred and seven species. A few are 

 beautiful ; but the majority are weeds, though not without a certain degree of interest, 

 since they enliven by their small and modest flowers our mossy banks and waste places. 



The order Monogynia has five genera, two with polypetalous flowers Monotropa 



Fig. 326. 

 Decandria Monogynia. 



Fig. 327. Fig. 328. Fig. 329. 



Decandria Digynia. Decandria Pentagynia. Decandria Trygynia 



and Pyrola, or Winter-green and three with only one petal, as the Arbutus or Bear- 

 berry. There are five genera in the order Digynia viz., Scleranthus, Chrysosplenium, 

 Saxifraga or Saxifrage, Saponaria, and Dianthus or Pink ; whilst the order Trigynia 

 has the Arenaria or Sandwort, Stellaria or Stitchwort, Silene or Catch-fly, and Cherleria 

 all weeds. The fourth order, or that called Pentagynia, has seven genera the 

 Lychnis; Cerastium, or Mouse-ear Chickweed; Sedum, or Stone-crop; Cotyledon; 

 Oxalis Acetosella, or Wood-sorrel ; Agrostemma ; and Spergula. The Dianthus, 

 Saxifraga, Lychnis, and Oxalis are doubtless the most beautiful ; whilst the Pyrola and 

 Arbutus exhibit certain feeble medicinal qualities. The class is somewhat remarkable 

 for the number of species in proportion to that of the genera. 



