72 

 CLASS 9. ENNEANDRIA. 



(Containing Plants with Nine Stamens.) 



The ninth is the smallest of all the classes, having in it only 

 a few foreign plants, among which are the Laurel, the Cashew 

 Nut, and the Rhubarb ; and like the seventh, it contains but 

 one British plant. This is the 



FLOWERING RUSH. Butomus umbellatus. 



Plate 5, fig. 10. 



Which belongs to the order HEXAGYNIA, the plant having 

 six styles. It is found in the ditches and ponds of England 

 and Ireland pretty frequently, and when its umbel of fine, large, 

 pink flowers, are surrounded by the narrow, upright, sword- 

 shaped leaves, it is a really beautiful plant, and contrasts finely 

 with the Yellow Flags and White Water Lilies, with which it 

 grows. It is called the Pride of the Thames ; for here 



" The Flowering Rush, with its roseate flush. 

 Reflects the soft tints of a maiden's blush. 1 ' 



Like all water plants it parts with moisture rapidly, and thus 

 when gathered soon droops and becomes withered. This, as 

 well as its native localities, is prettily alluded to in the following 

 extract : 



" Mid the Flags that fringe the streamlet's bed 



The stately Butomus reared her head, 



Like a Naiad crowned with a flowery wreath, 



She rose from the waters that flowed beneath. 

 ' Jt was lovely to look on that splendid flower, 



So richly endowed with beauty's dower; 



And as we turned from the river's shore, 



To our home the graceful stranger we bore. 

 " But the glow of her roseate charms had fled. 



When a few fleeting hours had passed o'er her head. 



For no more 'mid the grass in the verdant mead, 



Did the tranquil waters her loveliness feed. 

 " And fancy might dream that the pale leaves sighed, 



As though they mourned for the flowing tide. 



She could not live from her home afar, 



And she faded before the evening star." S. Waring. 



