FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS 49 



but twice-five sepals and five white petals, and a 

 great many stamens ; also stipules, but not alternate 

 leaves. 



Another near relative we might find, if it is the right 

 time of the year, in the hedge-rows. Its name is Poten- 

 tilla or Cinquefoils; and it has a pretty little pale 

 yellow flower, with again ten sepals and five petals and 

 many stamens. One kind has soft white undersides 

 to its leaves. 



These all belong to a great Order or Family, named 

 ROSACE^E; and that Order is divided into three Sub- 

 families : the Rose Sub-family ; the Pear Sub-family ; 

 and the Almond Sub-family. Sometimes the whole 

 large Order is spoken of as the ROSE FAMILY. But while 

 each of the Sub-families really is rather like a very big 

 Family of innumerable cousins, the whole Order is more 

 like a huge Tribe or Scotch Clan. 



And think what a useful Tribe this is to us. What 

 should we do without the Strawberries, the Raspberries, 

 the Blackberries, the Cherries, the Apples, the Pears, 

 the Almonds, the Plums, the Peaches, and many other 

 fruits, which its different members manufacture for 

 our use ? 



Or, again, what should we do without the multitudes 

 of lovely Roses, and of numberless other beautiful 

 flowers, belonging to it ? 



We have already seen some of the general signs by 

 which we may recognise many members of this very 

 fascinating clan. One other characteristic must be 

 mentioned : that, with hardly an exception, its members 

 do not manufacture anything hurtful or poisonous to 

 man. 



