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CLASS 2. DIANDRIA. 



(Containing Plants with Two Stamens.) 



Forty British plants belong to this class. Some of them are 

 very rare. Among those not here described are the curious 

 Bladder- worts, the roots of which are furnished with little air- 

 bags, or bladders, that keep the plants floating on the top of 

 the water where they grow. The Butter-wort, so called from 

 the greasy feel of the leaves. The Duck -weed, which covers 

 abundantly our ditches and ponds, and affords shelter for 

 thousands of insects. The Ash Tree, one of the most useful 

 timber trees, and one so elegant in form and lightness that it 

 is sometimes called " The Queen of the Groves." 



" All know that in the woods the Ash reigns queen, 

 In graceful beauty soaring to the sky." 



Besides these is the Sweet-scented Vernal Grass, which gives 

 such a delightful odour to new-mown hay. Of foreign flowers 

 Diandria boasts of numerous others of the Veronicas, the Olive, 

 Lilac, Jasmine, Schizanthus, Calceolaria, Monarda, one hun- 

 dred and seventy kinds of Sage, two hundred and forty sorts 

 of Pepper, and others. 



Order 1. MONOGYNIA. 1 Style. 



PRIVET, (Ligustrum.) Corolla under the fruit, of one petal, 



cut at the edge into four equal parts ; berry with two cells, 

 SPEEDWELL, (Veronica.) Corolla under the fruit, of one petal, 



cut into four parts, the lower of which is the narrowest. 

 GIPSY-WORT, (Lycopus.) Corolla under the fruit, of one petal, 



cut into four parts, the upper one notched ; calyx five-cleft. 

 SAGE, (Safoia.) Corolla under, two-lipped ; calyx two-lipped. 

 ENCHANTER'S NIGHT-SHADE, (Circcea.) Corolla upon the 



fruit, of two heart-shaped petals ; calyx two -leaved. 



