137 



CLASS 16. -MONODELPHIA. 



(Containing Plants whose Stamens are collected together in 

 one bundle.) 



Plants of the most elegant structure, vivid colors, and useful 

 properties, are found among those which are classed here, as 

 the graceful and grateful Tamarind, the radiant Passion Flower, 

 the numerous species of the Geraniums and Mallows, the 

 valuable Cotton Tree, the Tea Tree, and that largest production 

 of the whole vegetable kingdom, the Baobab or Monkey 

 Bread of Africa. This class, however, is not an extensive 

 one of British plants there are but twenty -two, and of these 

 but few are rare. The whole may be eaten without danger, 

 for no plant belongs to Monodelphia of poisonous qualities 

 on the contrary, many of them are valuable in medicine on 

 account of their soothing and softening properties. 



Order 1. PENTANDRIA. Five Stamens. 

 STORK'S-BILL, (Erodium.) Style one ; calyx of five leaves ; 

 corolla of five petals ; awn of the seed hairy inside. 



Order 2. DECANDRIA. Ten Stamens. 

 CRANE'S-BILL, (Geranium.) Style one ; calyx of five leaves ; 

 corolla of five petals ; awn without hairs. 



Note. The joining together of the filaments in these two genera is 

 hardly to be seen, as it is only at the base of them where they are 

 joined. Thus one of them may at first be considered as of the fifth 

 and the other of the tenth class. 



Order 3. POLYANDRIA. Many Stamens. 

 MALLOW, (Malva.) Styles many ; calyx double, exterior of 

 three leaves. 



STORK'S-BILL. ERODIUM. 

 HEMLOCK STORK'S-BILL. Erodium cicutarium. 



Plate 10, fig. 13. 

 On waste grounds and heaths, spreading all its leaves and 



