PLANTS. 247 



stems, and fruit have a pleasant, aromatic, and pungent 

 flavor, and, eaten as salad, and the unripe fruit prepared 

 as a condiment, is a tolerable substitute for capers. This 

 beautiful race, sometimes called Trophyworts, came 

 originally from Peru, but are now cultivated largely in 

 the United States. There are forty varieties. O. Re- 

 ceives its name tropaium, a trophy, from the resemblance 

 of the leaf to a shield, the flower to an empty helmet. 



TWENTY-THIRD FAMILY. OXALIDACE^;. WOOD 

 SORREL. (Class 10, L.) Are low or herbaceous plants, 

 growing in all parts of the world. 



The Common Sorrel (oxalis acetosella). Calyx and 

 flower composed of five petals ; seed contained in a cap- 

 sule, which bursts, scattering the contents elastically. 

 Leaves are heart-shaped, five-lobed ; the flower is white, 

 and without odor. The whole plant has an agreeable 

 acid taste, and the juice extracted and mechanically pre- 

 pared, forms oxalic acid or salt of sorrel, which, in 

 large doses, is highly poisonous. Found in woodlands 

 and fence rows. Blooms from May to July. K . 



The Sensitive Plant (oxalis sensitiva) has small 

 feathered leaves, with leaflets from 6-16 pairs; lower 

 sides shining purple. The leaves retract or shrink at 

 the slightest touch or breath, folding themselves so closely 

 that the purple color can not be seen. The flowers 

 are small and yellow ; the seeds are contained in cap- 

 sules, which, when fully ripe, burst open and scatter the 

 seeds often to a distance of five or six feet. This species 

 is native of the East Indies, where the people regard it 

 with superstitious reverence, and attribute wonderful 

 properties to it. 2 . Found also in America. 



