ANALYSIS OF AN APETALOUS HERB. 1 



ANALYSIS OF A POLYPETALOUS SHRUB. 



924. Again, suppose tlio class of pupils in botany to be furnished with specimens 

 of a certain flowering shrub. The cohort of the plant is ascertained, by the process 

 already noticed, to be Dialypetalas, the Polypetalous flowers (A), and we refer to 

 the (*), reading : 



"* Herbs with the leaves alternate or all radical. 



" * Herbs with the leaves opposite on the stem. 



" * Shrubs, trees or undershrubs." It is decided that our plant is a shrub, and 

 referred to the dash ( ). We next read : 



" Flowers regular or nearly so. 



" Flowers irregular (or the fruit a legume).-" The flowers are quite regular, 

 and referred to (2). "We then read : 



"Polyandrous," &c. "Oligandrous, " &c. The stamens are numerous, and the 

 plant referred to (3), where we again read : 



" Leaves opposite." " Leaves alternate." They are opposite, and we refer to the 

 letter (), and read : 



"Stamens on the receptacle, in several sets." "Stamens on the calyx." The 

 latter is true. Eefer to the dash ( ). Lastly : 



" Leaves with a marginal vein." " Leaves with no marginal vein." As the 

 latter is true of our specimens, we conclude it to belong to the Order SAXIFRAGACE^E, 

 and thither next refer, in order 



925. To DETERMINE THE GENUS. After reading and comparing as before, we 

 read the characters of the tribes ; and as our specimens are " shrubs with opposite 

 leaves," we readily conclude that it belongs to the Tribe Hydrangeas. "We next 

 read: " Corolla valvate in the bud." " Corolla convolute in the bud." It is the 

 latter. Eefer the next reader to the dash ( ) ; " Stamens 20 to 40. Petals 4." 

 " Stamens 10. Petals 5." In our specimens there are 20 or more stamens with 4 

 petals, and they must be referred to the Genus PHILADELPHIA. Next turn to that 

 genus and compare characters. 



926. The species is next found summarily by the italicized diagnosis in the de- 

 scriptions, thus : 



" Leaves entire. Sepals scarce longer than the tube. 



" Leaves sharply denticulate. Styles united. 



" Leaves subdentate. Styles distinct." Our specimens agree well with the 2d, 

 and we conclude that the species for which we have sough t is P. grandiflorus, a 

 fine flowering shrub, native of woods in the Southern States, and also cultivated in 

 shrubberies. 



ANALYSIS OF AN APETALOUS HERB. 



927. Specimens of a weed common in cultivated grounds are now supposed to 

 be before us. It has small, homely flowers, not easily discernible except under a 

 lens. As the leaves are net-veined, and the flowers 5-parted, with a calyx only, 

 the learner readily pronounces it a member of the Cohort APETAUE, and refers us to 

 (C). The two lines marked with the paragraph flf), although placed (for obvious 

 reasons) at some distance apart, are to be read together, thus : 



" 1 Plants herbaceous, the flowers not in aments." 



" Tf Plants woody, shrubs or trees.^" Our plant is an herb. Kefer to the two 

 lines marked with a star (2). 



" 2 Flowers with a regular calyx, or a calyx-like involucre. 



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