BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 61 



L. SONG OF THE DODECANDRIAN TRIBES. 



In desert spots and chalky dells, 

 The pale Reseda meekly dwells, 

 Yet hid within her petals lie, 

 Tints that with Ophir's gold may vie ; 

 The princely banner proudly spread 

 Above the courts where monarchs tread, 

 Gleaming with many a glorious hue, 

 From this pale flower its splendor drew. 



Let none behold with cold disdain, 

 The simplest blossom of the plain ! 

 Let none the simplest being scorn, 

 Though humbly placed and meanly born ; 

 The lowliest thing may have the power 

 To cheer and bless the loftiest bower. 



Queen of the Flowers, thee we greet, 



And lay our tribute at thy feet. 



E. In the Class Icosandria, or twenty sta- 

 mens, as its Greek name would signify, the num- 

 ber ranges from seven to one thousand, and of 

 course in such a case can be of little conse- 

 quence. You must remember that in this and 

 the next class the important point for considera- 

 tion is on what part of the flower they are in- 

 serted. Inconstancy, of the number and the 

 point of insertion, are the really valid characters 

 of the class. The number generally averages 

 about twenty, and the stamens are inserted 

 upon the sides of the calyx. 



