46 BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 



rather go on without learning any thing about 

 it until I understand the system of Linnaeus, 

 which we are now studying. 



E> On the contrary, it will assist you very 

 much at present, and so far from confusing, render 

 your ideas more clear. One of the natural 

 groups in this class is the ASPERIFOLIA of Lin- 

 naeus, or rough -leaved plants, so called from asper 

 rough, a.nA folia a leaf. In this family you can 

 readily distinguish the Borage Borago, with 

 its bright blue starry flowers. The plant 

 abounds in juice, which is sometimes employed 

 in medicine, and is used in England for making 

 a cooling drink. The Vipers Bugloss- -Echium, 

 so named from the style which looks like the 

 forked tongue of a snake : it is often called Blue 

 Weed from the color of its blossoms. I will close 

 the account of this somewhat astringent family, 

 with the prettiest flower in it, the forget Me 

 Not Mysotis, the origin of whose name I heard 

 you reading the other day, do you remember it ? 



L. O yes ! a lady and gentleman were walk- 

 ing by the banks of a river, when the lady ad- 

 mired the flower at some distance in the stream. 

 The gentleman plunged in the water to obtain 

 it for her, and got it, but his strength could not 



